Grass anthelids

Consultant, Matt Bissett (AGRIvision), has reported high numbers of grass anthelid caterpillars in a wheat crop south-west of Swan Hill, in the Mallee district of Victoria. Caterpillars were found across the whole paddock, with numbers as high as 20-30 per square metre found in some areas. Damage was severe in places; plants had been chewed and some leaves were found completely lopped off. The affected paddock is under a no-till regime and has a high stubble load. Research agronomist, Simon Craig (BCG), also reports finding grass anthelids in several wheat crops near Swan Hill. In one paddock, caterpillars were found on a sandy rise along the edge of the crop where feeding damage was clearly visible. Simon says the caterpillars appeared to be targeting newer leaves on plants, including the recently emerged flag leaves.

Grass anthelids (Pterolocera spp.) are considered a relatively minor pest of pastures and cereals, although grass anthelids were also problematic at this time last year near Swan Hill, as well as near Ballarat and Ararat in the western district of Victoria. 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 paddocks and cause damage to crops, with later instar larvae generally the most damaging.

Species within the Pterolocera genus are apparently all without names. The caterpillars found in these instances are brown or fawn with black and yellow markings. They are covered with distinct tufts of stout hairs and typically grow up to 50 mm in length. Grass anthelid caterpillars spin a dark brown cocoon in a vertical shaft in the soil, with the exit just below the soil surface. Male adult moths are buff with brown markings and have very large antennae. Adult females are flightless. Click here for images of grass anthelid caterpillars.