Rutherglen bugs

Swarms of Rutherglen bugs (Nysius vinitor) have been reported from several paddocks around Yass in the Southern Tablelands district of New South Wales, by agronomist, Roger Garnsey (Roger Garnsey Agronomy). Roger says they are particularly prominent on Paterson’s curse, but have caused significant damage to at least one newly established rye grass paddock. This paddock is likely to be re-sown due to the severity of attack. Although Rutherglen bugs are more likely to be a problem in spring, they can be sporadic pests at this time of year under favourable conditions.

The Rutherglen bug is a common native insect that attacks a wide range of weed and crop hosts, including sunflowers, linseed, canola, wheat, sorghum, safflower and lucerne. In some seasons, Rutherglen bugs can reach plague proportions, typically when the senescence of weed hosts in spring and early summer forces adults and nymphs into nearby crops. Highest numbers of Rutherglen bugs are often observed along crop perimeters.

Adults are 4 mm long, have clear wings and are narrow bodied. They are grey-brown in colour, have two prominent black eyes and are very mobile. Immature Rutherglen bugs are dark red, more swollen in shape than adults and lack fully-developed wings. Both adults and nymphs are sap-suckers and damage can occur when they penetrate pods and feed on developing seed in ripening crops. In autumn, high numbers of Rutherglen bugs can also cause cupping of leaves potentially killing emerging seedlings. Click here for images of Rutherglen bugs.

Rutherglen bugs can be controlled by removing weeds they use as hosts and by ploughing a deep furrow around the crop, which prevents wingless individuals migrating from weeds. There are also several organophosphates and synthetic pyrethoids registered against Rutherglen bugs, although insecticide applications will not guarantee a clean crop as winged bugs can readily reinvade sprayed areas.