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Agronomist, Jim Cronin (Landmark), has reported yellowheaded pasture cockchafers (Sericesthis spp.) attacking wheat paddocks near Forbes, in the Central West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales. Some paddocks have experienced significant feeding damage. Agronomist, Rob Harrod (Elders), has also found yellowheaded pasture cockchafers near Albury, in the South West Slopes of New South Wales.
The yellowheaded pasture cockchafer grub is “C” shaped, creamy-grey in colour, with a yellow head capsule. When fully grown in winter they are about 25-30 mm long. The grubs live in the soil until mid to late summer, where they emerge as yellow-reddish brown beetles about 10-15 mm in length. Yellowheaded pasture cockchafers are primarily root feeders. To check for cockchafer grubs, dig in the affected areas or look on the soil surface for tunnel entrances.
Unlike blackheaded pasture cockchafers, control of the yellowheaded pasture cockchafers is complicated. There are no synthetic insecticides that give effective control of yellowheaded pasture cockchafers because of their subterranean feeding habits. Re-sowing areas made bare by cockchafer damage using a higher seeding rate is often the most effective strategy. Sowing oats or non-preferred pasture species (e.g. phalaris and cocksfoot) have been shown to reduce cockchafer numbers.
Click here for images of the yellowheaded pasture cockchafer 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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