Cabbage Seedpod Weevil ( <i>Ceutorhynchus obstrictus</i> ) Management in Canola ( <i>Brassica napus</i> ) across western Canada

Abstract The cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a significant pest of canola ( Brassica napus L.) and other brassicaceous crops in western Canada, causing considerable yield losses if not effectively managed. It is primarily a pest of the southern prairies in western Canada, where damage can vary from 5 to 30% yield loss depending on region and year. CSW is a univoltine insect that overwinters in the adult stage. Adults are attracted to flowering fields each spring, where they mate, and females lay eggs in developing canola pods. Early flowering fields are most susceptible to damage and should be given priority in initial monitoring and management. Although adults can cause limited damage, larvae feeding on seeds in developing pods cause most of the damage. Insecticides are most often used for management, with no currently active biological control programs, though different options are being explored, and various cultural control strategies may prove effective in western Canada. This case study will review the current monitoring and management strategies for CSW in western Canada and suggest future areas of research. Information © The Authors 2024