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Cereal crops across southern New South Wales appear to be coming under increasing attack from oat aphids in recent weeks. Agronomist, Hayden Lunn (Landmark) reports that oat aphids can be commonly found in cereals around Finley in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Both pre-irrigated and dryland crops are affected, and Hayden says there is no apparent pattern to the level of infestation in a particular crop. At this stage a few crops have required chemical control however most will continue to be monitored over the coming weeks to determine whether aphid numbers are increasing.
Agronomist, Bob Ronald (Landmark) has also reported high numbers of oat aphids in some cereal crops around Albury, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Bob says one particular barley crop appears to be affected worse than others and is now likely to be sprayed. Others will be monitored closely in coming weeks and if chemical control is required it may be timed to coincide with a spray application for stripe rust.
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. Importantly, cereal aphids can also vector some important plant viruses, such as barley yellow dwarf virus. The effect of such viruses on crops is generally worse when they are transmitted earlier in the season. Click here for images of oat aphids.
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.
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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.
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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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