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Agronomist, Doug Parker (AGRIvision Consultants), has reported high numbers of grass anthelid caterpillars in a wheat crop west of Swan Hill, in the Mallee district of Victoria. The caterpillars were found in a section of the crop adjacent to some trees, and appear to have moved into the crop from this area. Although they have currently only affected about half an acre, plants in the affected area were significantly damaged and Doug says there is some concern about them spreading further into the paddock.
Grass anthelid (Pterolocera amplicornis) is a relatively minor pest of pastures and cereals. The larvae feed on grasses and their numbers usually build up in pastures or roadside vegetation. In late winter and early spring, they can move into and damage the edges of cereal crops. Larvae are brown with black and yellow markings, covered with tufts of stout hairs and can grow up to 50 mm in length. Later instar larvae are typically the most damaging. Grass anthelid caterpillars spin a dark brown cocoon in a vertical shaft in the soil, with the emergence exit just below the surface (silk tube leading to the surface).
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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