Differential Feeding By Grasshoppers On Wheat, Durum, Oats And Barley

O. Olfert and R. Weiss

Grasshoppers are the most important insect pests of small grain crops. Grasshopper feeding may occur in cereal crops from May to September. Concerns over pesticide use have lead to investigation of alternative strategies to reduce grasshopper damage. These strategies include cultural and biological control as well as the use of cultivars with natural resistance. Resistance in cereal crops results when the plants natural defenses are used to suppress grasshopper feeding, development and reproduction. Trials were conducted at Scott SK (2003 and 2004) to study potential feeding differences between spring cereals. The trials involved cultivars of wheat (n=9), durum (n=6), oats (n=9) and barley (n=15). Results from field evaluations indicated that feeding pressure was greatest for barley and least for oats.

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Source
2nd OACC Organic Research Workshop, Presented in association with the Organic Connections: Prairie Wide Organic Conference and Trade Show, November 14-16th, 2004


Author Locations and Affiliations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon SK.