b'C anadianP otatoC ounCilThe rotational crop study Noronha was completing on Hoggs farm was part of the Canadian Potato Councils (CPC) ongoing cluster research with the Ca-nadian Horticultural Council through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. The CPC is currently on its third research cluster and the wireworm group is working on expanding their integrated pest management (IPM) research with the plan of making a manual for Canadian potato growers.THE PESTWireworms have a long-life cycle, Noronha explains in a phone interview. The adults come out in the spring, lay their eggs and then die, which happens in the span of two months.Once the eggs are laid, the larvae, which are called wireworms, hatchthe adults are click beetles. The wireworms live in the ground, under the soil, for as long as two to five years, depending on the species.Once a field has wireworms in it, you have to control the wireworms. Otherwise in five years, they come out as adults and they lay more eggs, Norohna says.Wireworms have become more of a problem in Canada over the years as populations have increased and feasted on various crops. In potatoes they eat holes in the tubers and reduce the overall quality of the crop.There are some European species that have been causing a lot of damage in British Columbia and in Prince Edward Island. But now the species that are also in Alberta, are starting to cause problems and in Quebec and in Ontario as well, Norohna adds.As populations have increased and crop damage has become worse, it has been important to understand more about wireworms, their lifecycles and how to control them through chemical and non-chemical means, Ryan Barrett, research and agronomy specialist with the P.E.I. Potato Board, says in a phone interview.In the previous two research clusters, Noronhas team have been able to do an analysis on chemical products available for wireworm control which has helped Health Canadas Pest Management Regulatory Agency to approve new products for use in Canada. The group has also completed comprehensive surveys of wireworm populations across Canada, which has helped growers understand how much of a problem the pests are. Theyve also done extensive work on wireworm control through methods such as rotational crops and biological control. WORKING ON A MANUALNorohnas teams wireworm research has already helped growers across Can-ada, but theyve discovered wireworm control isnt just about doing one thing, its about controlling populations through a number of different strategies. Christine Norohnas Every year you have to do something, so thats what we want to develop atresearch group has the end, Norohna explains. We want to give the farmers all the options thatfound that using they have for every year of their production cycle. What can they do in order tomustard as a rotation keep on top of this insect and not let it get of control? crop can help reduce wireworm damage. The group is working on creating an integrated pest management (IPM) strategy which they plan to share through a written manual. They are currently in the third year of the five-year research cluster.FALL 2020 SPUDSMART.COM 25'