Update: Pest outbreak declared

Jun 8, 2019 | 7:38 AM

An official with B.C.’s Agriculture Ministry says a pest outbreak has caused substantial damage to crops in the Enderby, Armstrong and Spallumcheen areas.

The ministry has declared an outbreak of the Western yellowstriped armyworm in those communities.

Entomologist Susanna Acheampong says the pests have done substantial damage to alfalfa, asparagus, other vegetables, and gar

“The caterpillars go through at least two cycles and will be around into October. We are not sure if they will spread to other areas. That is why we are asking people to report any sightings,” said Acheampong in an email to Vernon Matters.

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According to the ministry, Western yellowstriped armyworm feeds on forage crops, vegetables, ornamentals, and weeds.

More than 60 plant species have been listed as hosts. Hosts recorded in North Okanagan include forage (alfalfa, corn, buckwheat), vegetables (potatoes, beans, peas, beets, rhubarb, carrots, tomatoes, squash), ornamentals (hostas, sunflowers, snapdragon, cosmos, sweet peas, dahlias, gladiolus, daisies, willow, walnut, mountain ash, variegated elderberry) and weeds (pigweed, kochia, lambs quarters, bindweed, mallow, burdock, nightshade, dandelions, scentless chamomile).

June 8:

A destructive pest is causing major damage to vegetable and flower gardens in Spallumcheen, Armstrong and Enderby.

In fact, the province’s Agriculture Ministry has declared an outbreak of the Western yellowstriped armyworm in those communities.

“Western yellowstriped armyworm (Spodopterapraefica) was reported for the first time in the North Okanagan valley of British Columbia in Enderby, Armstrong and Spallumcheen in July 2018. Thousands of caterpillars moved into crops causing extensive damage to vegetable and flower gardens, ornamentals and alfalfa,” said information from the Ministry.

“Caterpillars feed on foliage, chew large holes in leaves and can cause complete defoliation. Caterpillars also feed on tomato fruit. Significant damage occurs to crops and gardens in June and July and in late September – early October.”

The Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce posted notice of the outbreak on its Facebook page, adding Ministry of Agriculture’s Entomologist, Susanna Acheampong PhD, has been visiting affected farms and keeping apprised of the situation.

“Susanna has created an email list of affected producers for updates,” stated the Chamber’s page.

The ministry lists several ways to try to control the worms through cultural, biological and chemical means.

You can find out more about the pest here.

by Pete McIntyre

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