sustainability through science & innovation
Field services manager, Chris Baker (AGnVET Services), has reported finding small translucent grubs damaging lupins north-east of Condobolin, in the Central West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales. The grubs were found to be eating the outer sheath off the roots, which in combination with mouse damage, has lead to reduced plant numbers in the paddock. The grubs are likely to be the larvae of a fungus gnat fly (Family: Sciaridae).
Field services manager, Chris Baker (AGnVET Services), has reported finding small translucent grubs damaging lupins north-east of Condobolin, in the Central West Slopes and Plains district of New South Wales. The grubs were found to be eating the outer sheath off the roots, which in combination with mouse damage, has lead to reduced plant numbers in the paddock. The grubs are likely to be the larvae of a fungus gnat fly (Family: Sciaridae).
Adult fungal gnats are small mosquito-like flies, and are typically 2-5 mm long. They are grey-black in colour with long delicate legs. Larvae are small, white, legless grubs with a distinctive shiny black head. Click here for more images of fungus gnat larvae.
Fungal gnats are usually only problematic in household gardens and nurseries and prefer moist soils with a high organic content. The larvae primarily feed on fungi, however at times they will also eat soft plant tissues such as roots and young stems. This type of feeding can result in stunted plant growth, and lead to wilting and in severe cases plant death. There are no insecticides registered against fungal gnats in broad-acre crops.
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.”
Contact us
0484 310 697
|
PestFacts Reporter app: |
||
 |
 |
|
PestFacts is supported by
