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Oat aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) continue to be a problem in the Mallee and Wimmera districts of Victoria. Grower, Michael Geddes, has reported oat aphids on wheat crops near Donald, in the Wimmera, Victoria. Although the number of oat aphids is relatively high, Michael has also noticed many ‘mummified’ aphids, indicating the presence of a healthy population of natural enemies. For this reason, and because the crops are struggling under the present weather conditions, Michael will not be applying chemicals and has decided to allow the natural biological control to contain aphid numbers.
Oat aphids (sometimes called ‘cereal aphids’ or ‘wheat aphids’) can be found on all cereals including wheat, barley and oats. They vary in colour from olive-green to black and are characterised by a dark-reddish patch on the tip of the abdomen. Adults are pear-shaped and have antennae which extend half the body length. Importantly, oat aphids can spread barley yellow dwarf virus.
For further information on oat aphids and barley yellow dwarf virus, refer to PestFacts Issue No. 9.
What is PestFacts?
PestFacts south-eastern keeps growers and advisers informed about invertebrate pests and beneficials in broadacre crops and pastures during the winter-cropping season in Victoria and southern New South Wales.
PestFacts south-eastern is run through IPMforGrains: Best Practice Insect Pest Management, a project delivered by the National Pest Information Network (cesar, DPIRD, QDAF, NSW DPI, and SARDI). This project aims to provide grain growers and advisors with information on invertebrate grain pest occurrence and equip industry with the knowledge needed to implement integrated pest management practices. This initiative is a GRDC investment and includes in-kind contributions from all project partner organisations.
We need your reports
PestFacts is produced on an ʻas-needsʼ basis and relies upon pest observations and field reports from our subscribers. If you have recently observed invertebrate pests (or beneficial species) in broadacre crops, please contact us to report your observations.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
PestFacts map
PestFacts map is an interactive tool that allows users to search and view historical pest reports across Victoria and NSW. The map is updated with each issue of PestFacts to include new reports.
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With appropriate acknowledgement, cesar grants permission to reproduce information taken directly from PestFacts. To cite PestFacts: “PestFacts south-eastern (<<enter date published>>). cesar pty ltd.”
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