sustainability through science & innovation
Research agronomist, Rohan Wardle (Southern Farming Systems), has reported high numbers of earth mites in paddocks in parts of the Western district of Victoria. Redlegged earth mites (Halotydeus destructor) were detected in various crops between Ballarat and Colac, and also around Dunkeld. Unusually high numbers of bryobia mites have also been reported by agronomist, Craig Drum (Tatyoon Rural), in one canola crop and an oat crop south of Ararat, also in the Western district of Victoria.
Redlegged earth mites are approximately 1 mm long with a globular shaped black body and eight orange-red legs. They are one of the most important establishment pests and attack a wide variety of crops and pastures, including cereals, oilseeds, legumes and fodder crops. Redlegged earth mites are active from autumn to spring, however they are most problematic when crops are just emerging from the ground. As crops develop they may be able to outgrow damage caused by earth mites.
Adult bryobia mites are less than 1 mm long with a fawn-orange coloured body and orange legs. Unlike redlegged earth mites and other pest mite species, bryobia mites are typically most active in autumn, spring and summer. Reports of bryobia mites at this time of year are somewhat unusual. There is some speculation that this may be a consequence of soil temperatures remaining relatively warm up until now. When chemical control is required, organophosphate based chemicals are likely to provide better control of bryobia mites than synthetic pyrethroids.
Click here for images of redlegged earth mites and click here for images of bryobia mites.
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.
We need your reports
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.
Agricultural invertebrate identification
If you are a grower or agronomist in Victoria or NSW working with broadacre crops or pastures, we can assist you with identifying invertebrates found on farms at no cost. Please contact us for identification help.
PestFacts map
PestFacts map is an interactive tool that allows users to search and view historical pest reports across Victoria and NSW. The map is updated with each issue of PestFacts to include new reports.
How to acknowledge PestFacts?
With appropriate acknowledgement, cesar grants permission to reproduce information taken directly from PestFacts. To cite PestFacts: “PestFacts south-eastern (<<enter date published>>). cesar pty ltd.”
Contact us
0484 310 697
|
PestFacts Reporter app: |
||
 |
 |
|
PestFacts is supported by
