sustainability through science & innovation
Redlegged earth mites and blue oat mites continue to be active and have recently been reported causing damage to crops in various regions of Victoria and New South Wales. Although these pests are typically most problematic at the time of crop establishment, they can damage crops at all stages if populations are large. Earth mites penetrate the epidermal cells of plants and remove the cellular contents. This results in characteristic ‘silvering’ on the leaf surface, and can lead to shrivelling and slowed growth under high infestations.
Blue oat mites (Penthaleus sp.) and redlegged earth mites (Halotydeus destructor) are similar in appearance and share sympatric life cycles. Both species are approximately 1mm long and have eight orange-red legs. Blue oat mites can be distinguished from other mites by their blue-black coloured body and characteristic red mark on their back. Click here for images of blue oat mites and the redlegged earth mite, and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 2 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.
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.”
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0484 310 697
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