Rapeseed Pest Model

Context

Winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) attracts numerous pest insects throughout its growing season. Infestation by pest insects can lead to significant yield loss, especially in combination with pathogens. Forecasting systems enable farmers to predict the date of pest immigration to crops for appropriate timing of insecticide applications.

Overview

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has developed threshold-based models to predict the start of invasion of rapeseed by pest insects for the rape stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus napi Gyll.), the cabbage stem weevil (Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus Mrsh.) and the pollen beetle (Meligethes aeneus Fab.). These models are based on numerical algorithms linking meteorological variables to pest immigration based on long-term datasets from multi-site experimental locations in Germany and Luxembourg.

Benefits

The models offer sufficiently accurate forecasts of pest migration for appropriate timing of insecticide application. The number of insecticide applications can be reduced, resulting in more sustainable use of resources.

Potential Applications

For practical agriculture:

• The models can be used by farmers as a decision support tool for pest control by calculating the risk of pest insect migration to crops.
• For agricultural consulting:
• By adjusting the models to local meteorological conditions, the models can easily be transferred to different climate regions all over Europe.
• For scientists:
• The models can be integrated with climate change models to explore future risk scenarios for pest insects.