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Agronomist, Eoin Flett (Williams & Jackson Agricultural Services), has reported balaustium mites (Balaustium spp.) attacking several crops north of Geelong, Victoria. In particular, some barley crops have suffered considerable feeding damage in recent times. Eoin says balaustium mites appear to have increased in numbers over the past few years and is finding they are often difficult to control with chemicals.
Balaustium mites are emerging as a major pest in Australia, with reports indicating they can cause extensive damage to cereal, canola and lupin crops. They are often confused with other mite pests including redlegged earth mites, blue oat mites and bryobia mites. Adults are about 2 mm long, and have a rounded, red-brown coloured body that is covered in short hairs. Feeding damage by balaustium mites can result in cupping and leathering of cotyledons, and under extreme infestations plant death or retardation can occur.
At present, there are no insecticides registered for the control of balaustium mites. Further, balaustium mites are often reported to persist in the field following chemical applications aimed at other mite species. Recent trials have shown a significant difference in tolerance levels across mite species. Cesar has found balaustium mites are more tolerant to a range of organophosphorus and synthetic pyrethroid chemicals compared with other mites. Observations in Western Australia indicate higher rates of alpha-cypermethrin (e.g. 400 mL/ha) aimed at other pest species, have provided adequate control of balaustium mites also present.
Rotations with break crops can be useful in preventing pest numbers from becoming established. Avoiding volunteer grasses within susceptible crops, such as cereals and pulses, is also recommended as a way of reducing balaustium numbers. Research into the biology and ecology of these pests is currently underway with the aim of improving control strategies.
Click here for images of balaustium mites and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 6 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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