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John Sykes (John Sykes Rural Consulting) has confirmed African black beetle (Heteronychus arator) in the Upper Murray and north of Holbrook, NSW. The beetles have been observed attacking mainly ryegrass seedlings. The African black beetle can also be a pest of cereal crops.
The beetle is primarily a pasture-favouring, soil-dwelling insect. It is most damaging at the adult stage and can attack a wide range of economically important plants. The adults are 12 to 14mm long and glossy black in colour. Larvae are present only in late spring to mid-summer.
As with most other soil-dwelling pests, the African black beetle is difficult to control. John says the medium numbers have not warranted chemical applications, although close monitoring will be necessary. Most flight activity occurs in late summer-autumn, which coincides with the new generation of adults.
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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.
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