Population dynamic of Lepidopteran pests of sweet corn and recommendations for adapting control strategies

Description

Lepidopteran pest dynamics in sweet corn require three to six insecticide treatments per year to achieve acceptable crop injury levels. In recent years, European corn borer populations have declined significantly while western bean cutworm populations have appeared and earworm and armyworm populations have persisted. Considering that the dynamics of pests have changed a lot in recent years, the recommendations and control strategies are perhaps no longer as adapted to the state of the situation. The objective of this project is therefore to determine what adaptations can be made to the control strategies against the main Lepidopteran pests of sweet corn in order to effectively control this complex of pests in the current state of the populations while minimizing the impact of health and environmental practices. The last year of the project will aim to obtain data under experimental conditions for a first year of testing the implementation of adaptations to the control strategy, either by global screening of the complex of Lepidoptera pests of sweet corn, or to put forward another strategy with more potential. This project will thus make it possible to take a step towards the reduction of insecticides used in sweet corn against this complex of pests.

Objective(s)

To determine what adaptations can be made to control strategies for lepidopteran pests of sweet corn in the current state of populations while minimizing the impact of practices on health and the environment.

Sub-objective :

1. Determine the evolution of populations and phytosanitary practices of producers in Quebec with regard to the management of Lepidoptera over the past 15 years.
2. Recommend adaptations to the control strategies currently advocated in Quebec and recommend control strategies to be investigated.
3. Obtain data for a first year of on-farm testing of the implementation of adaptations to the current control strategy.