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Agronomist, Mick Duncan (Northern Agriculture), recently reported that black field crickets (Teleogryllus commodus) were present across paddocks around Armidale, in the Northern Tablelands district of New South Wales. Mick says a number of oat crops were attacked, and some parts within paddocks had to be re-sown due to the level of feeding damage. Black field crickets are present in most years but rarely cause significant damage to crops. Mick says chemical control is typically not warranted.
If temperatures are favourable and food is plentiful, black field cricket populations can reach very high levels. Mick reports that large populations were present in late summer-early autumn, particularly in paddocks with a large amount of organic matter present. Numbers have now declined considerably with the onset of cooler/wetter conditions, and are unlikely to be a threat to emerging crops in most regions. Large populations of black field crickets are not likely to be seen again until late spring-early summer.
See PestFacts Issue No. 1 for further information about black field crickets.
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.
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.
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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.
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