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Lucerne flea (Sminthurus viridis) have been reported causing damage to a barley crop which was undersown with lucerne, east of Griffith in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Some damage was present on both the barley and the lucerne plants and control options are currently being considered. Lucerne flea are typically present from autumn to spring and can be problematic throughout this period.
Adult lucerne fleas are approximately 3 mm long and green-yellow in colour. They work up the plants from ground level, eating tissue from the underside of the foliage. They leave distinctive feeding damage of ‘windows’ of transparent leaf membrane and ‘spring’ or jump off vegetation when disturbed. Click here for images of the lucerne flea.
High numbers of small (1-2 mm long), dark purplish-black coloured collembola (or ‘springtails’) have been sighted in various crops in the Riverina and South West Slopes districts of New South Wales, as well as the Western district of Victoria. Researcher, Ange Tsitsilas (cesar) reports observing ‘thousands per square metre’ of these springtails in paddocks between Geelong and Hamilton recently.
According to researcher, John Roberts (cesar), they are members of the Hypogastruridae family, and despite the high numbers which are often detected, John says they are unlikely to be feeding on crop plants. Collembola are soil and litter dwelling insects that prefer wet, damp surroundings. They lack wings and always have antennae. They are among the most abundant of all soil-dwelling insects.
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.
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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.”
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