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Agronomist, Bob Ronald (Landmark), has reported aphids causing damage to several wheat crops near Oaklands, in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. The aphids have been identified as oat aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi). Agronomist, Nigel Phillips (NSW DPI), has also reported aphids in cereal crops around Wagga Wagga, in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. Nigel says the aphids are generally not causing significant feeding damage to crops.
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. Oat aphids suck sap, causing yellowing and stunting of plants. They can also spread barley yellow dwarf virus.
Cooler weather will slow the rate of aphid development, with many crops able to outgrow the damage caused by aphids during winter. In Oaklands however, very high numbers of aphids were observed, with estimates of 30-50 insects per wheat plant. Bob says they were causing considerable damage, primarily attacking the plant stems. Feeding by high numbers of aphids is likely to reduce yield and grain size. The affected paddocks have been sprayed with insecticides, and Bob says the crops have improved since spraying.
Click here for images of oat aphids and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 2 for further information.
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.
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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.
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