sustainability through science & innovation
Agronomist, Jack Daniel (Robert Smith & Co), has reported finding numerous large red mites in a crop of lentils near Warracknabeal, in the Wimmera district of Victoria. The mites are approximately 3-4 mm long, and have been identified as velvet mites. There are many species of velvet mites within Australia, however most are poorly understood. They are often observed walking on the soil surface between crop plants or hiding under trash and stubble.
Velvet mites belong to the Trombidiidae or Erythraeidae families and are typically beneficial. They are usually bright red to brown in colour. Their body is covered with many short stout hairs, giving them a ‘velvety’ appearance, which is particularly evident when viewed under a hand lens or microscope. As adults, velvet mites are typically free-living predators that prey upon a range of invertebrates, whereas the nymphs of many species are parasitic on insects. It is likely that the adults attack pest mites such as redlegged earth mites and other soft-bodied pests.
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
