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Oat aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) have been detected by agronomist Rick Rundell-Gordon (Dodgshun Medlin) from various cereal crops around Swan Hill, in the Mallee district of Victoria. At this stage they only appear to be present in low numbers and Rick says the crops do not look stressed or show visual signs of damage. However monitoring will continue as aphid numbers can build up very rapidly under favourable condtions, which can then result in large, damaging populations that peak in late winter and early spring.
Oat aphids (sometimes called ‘cereal aphids’) are significant pests of cereal crops and grasses in southern Australia. They have a light green to olive coloured body which is pear shaped, with a rusty red patch at the end of the abdomen. Oat aphids are generally found on oats and wheat, however they may attack all cereals. They can attack crops at any stage and heavy infestations can result in yield losses. Click here for images of oat aphids.
Rick also reports noticing that numbers of beneficial parasitic wasps appear to be increasing at the moment. Parasitic wasps lay their eggs into the bodies of live aphids, where the developing larva feed inside, eventually killing the aphid. The bronze coloured swollen bodies of aphids (referred to as ‘mummies) are all that remain, and these are often the first sign of parasitic wasp activity. If chemical control of aphids is required, selective insecticides (such as pirimicarb) are available, which are aphid specific and less harmful to other invertebrates. In some cases a border spray can be effective in preventing aphid numbers building-up in crops.
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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