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District agronomist, Tim Burley (NSW DPI), has observed high numbers of slaters in a wheat crop near Moree, in the North West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales. Although not confirmed, they are likely to be flood bugs (Australiodillo bifrons), which are a native species that has previously caused problems in this region. The affected paddock has been sown into faba bean stubble, and Tim says some damage is already evident on emerging seedlings, which are currently at the 2-leaf stage.
In the past three years there have been several isolated cases of flood bugs causing economic damage to cereal crops around Moree. Damage consists of ‘windows’ of transparent leaf membrane, similar to that caused by lucerne flea. Flood bugs have the unusual behaviour of moving in ‘swarms’ which can consist of >100,000 individuals. Tim says he has observed very high numbers in parts of the affected paddock, and they appear to be moving from a grass verge across the crop. Numbers are highest in a section of the paddock that was sown slightly earlier than the rest.
Contrary to common belief, slaters are crustaceans, not insects. They have a hard skeleton on the outside of their bodies and many pairs of jointed legs. Flood bugs have an oval shaped, flattened body which is light brown in colour with a dark brown head and dark brown marking down the middle. They are approximately 7-8 mm long and 4 mm wide. A. bifrons is a lowland swamp species, adapted to marshy environments. They will die if exposed to open and dry situations, with most reports indicating an association with paddocks in or near flood plains.
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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