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Agronomist, Jan Edwards (NSW DPI), reports high numbers of Rutherglen bugs (Nysius vinitor) attacking a seedling lupin crop near Cowra in the Central Tablelands district of New South Wales. Both adults and nymphs were present throughout the crop but were most abundant at the edges of the paddock. It was unclear from visual inspection whether the bugs were causing significant damage to the crop, however Pulse Development Officer, Trevor Bray (Pulse Australia), suggests they are likely to be feeding on the growing points and may be retarding growth.
Agronomist, Steve Brabin (AGnVET Services), has reported Rutherglen bugs attacking a wheat crop south of Temora, in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. The affected paddock was sown to canola last year and contains some weeds, which may be favouring insect numbers. Agronomist, Phil Bowden (NSW DPI), reports significant numbers of Rutherglen Bug nymphs in many crops around Cootamundra and Junee, in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. Phil says the mild conditions experienced recently have likely favoured the build-up of these pests. Entomologist, Joanne Holloway (NSW DPI), has also reported Rutherglen bugs present in an early stage canola crop near Junee.
Rutherglen bugs attack a wide range of crops and weeds, and although they are more common in spring, they are sporadic pests in autumn under favourable conditions. Like all true bugs they have sucking and piercing mouthparts, and damage is similar to that caused by aphids. Adults are 4 mm long and grey-brown in colour with clear wings folded flat on their back. Nymphs are wingless and have a dark red, pear-shaped body. Rutherglen bugs can be controlled by removing weeds they use as hosts and by ploughing a deep furrow around the crop, which prevents wingless individuals migrating from weeds.
Click here for images of Rutherglen bugs and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 3 for more 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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