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Agronomist, Hayden Lunn (Landmark), has reported finding very high numbers of small green grubs attacking marshmallow weed within a wheat crop west of Finley, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. The grubs have been identified as larvae of the grey-banded leaf weevil (Ethemaia sellata), which are commonly found on marshmallow weed in many regions. Hayden says the grubs have completely destroyed some large plants.
Weevil larvae have also been found affecting large amounts of clover in a pasture paddock south of Ararat, in the Western district of Victoria. Agronomist, Craig Drum (Tatyoon Rural), reports finding 4-5 larvae in a shallow shovel full and says they appeared to be attacking plants just below the soil surface. The grubs are likely to be vegetable weevil larvae, or a closely related species.
Grey-banded leaf weevil larvae are yellow to green in colour with a light green-brown head capsule. They are legless, grow to approximately 5-8 mm in length, and are often confused with vegetable weevil larvae. Little is known about the feeding ecology of this weevil. Adults are known to attack several winter crops including canola and lupins, while larvae are most commonly found on malvaceous weeds such as marshmallow. Click here for images of the grey-banded leaf weevil and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 2 for further information.
Larvae of the vegetable weevil are yellow to green in colour and up to 12 mm long with a flattened slug like body and a smallish brown head. Both adults and larvae predominantly attack canola and a range of weeds, although cereals and grasses are occasionally attacked. Click here for images of vegetable weevils and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 4. for further 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.
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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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