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Redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) numbers continue to increase across many regions of Victoria and southern NSW. Reports have been made from several agronomists of high numbers of redlegged earth mites in pastures in the Western district in Victoria and the Riverina region in NSW. Grower, Richard Robertson, has experienced considerable feeding damage on recently sown clover paddocks near Bairnsdale, in East Gippsland, Victoria. Michelle Pardy (Victoria DPI) says she has also received numerous reports of general increases in redlegged earth mite numbers across the Northern Country, Victoria.
Control of redlegged earth mites can be timed to occur during a short window of the season – during spring - before the production of diapause or ‘over-summering’ eggs. This approach will reduce redlegged earth mite numbers the following autumn. The timing of spraying is critical and dependant on location. Exact spray dates can be modelled and are freely available through a package known as Timerite®. For further information go to: www.timerite.com.au.
Correct identification of mites before deciding to spray in spring is important. Timerite® is designed only to control redlegged earth mites; this strategy will not effectively control other pests, such as blue oat mites.
For further information about the biology, correct identification and control options for the redlegged earth mite refer to PestFacts Issue No. 1.
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.
How to acknowledge PestFacts?
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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