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Agronomist, Hayden Lunn (Landmark), reports finding small mites in a newly sown wheat crop near Finley, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. They have been identified as juvenile mites from the Oribatida order, also known as beetle mites or armoured mites. Hayden says the mites appear to be chewing directly on wheat seeds and preventing germination. Large patches within the paddock have failed to germinate, and in these areas 10-20 mites could be seen below the soil surface on (or just near) the shoot of each seed. The affected paddock has been a long-term pasture paddock, which was sown to maize in 2007. The current wheat crop has been irrigated this year.
Oribatid mites are not typically known to cause damage to crop plants and Hayden has not observed these mites causing problems prior to this year. Oribatid mites eat fungi, algae, and dead plant matter. Some species are also predaceous. Oribatid mites live in the top layer of the soil, leaf litter, or other debris. They can also be found on mosses, lichens, and other low plants, and tend to live in large numbers.
The affected paddock has been sprayed with alpha-cypermethrin at 500 ml/ha, but the mites were found to survive in many areas, probably because they are protected below the soil surface. Upon closer examination, the mite nymphs are approximately 0.5 mm in length and have eight legs. They have a whitish coloured body with long setae (hair-like structures). There were no adults found in the samples, and it is unclear whether the adults are also responsible for the feeding damage observed.
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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