sustainability through science & innovation
Agronomist, Andrew Parr (Howard Martin & Co), has observed high numbers of grubs in a newly sown lucerne crop east of Finley, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Some patchy feeding damage has been observed, including the odd plant that was completely chewed off at ground level. Mite and aphid populations were present a few weeks ago and the paddock was sprayed with chlorpyrifos to protect emerging seedlings. However, Andrew says high numbers of grubs persisted and could easily be found on the soil surface.
The grubs are about 10 mm in length, brown in colour, with 6 well-developed legs and prominent mouthparts. Research officer, Kym Perry (SARDI), has identified them as soldier beetle larvae. It is possible the grubs are larvae of the plague soldier beetle (Chauliognathus lugubris), which was present in extremely high numbers in large parts of News South Wales and Victoria earlier this year.
Plague soldier beetles are a native species that can form huge mating swarms. The adults are straight-sided beetles that are 10–20 mm in length. They are relatively soft bodied, with black wing-covers and a large black head. Importantly, the grubs are not plant feeding. In fact they are predaceous, feeding on insect eggs and soft-bodied pests such as aphids and caterpillars.
Spring is the peak time of the season for many beneficial insects, which can play a key role in pest control when low to moderate numbers of pests are present. Growers are encouraged to consider numbers of beneficial insects before deciding on control strategies.
For further information on beneficial insects likely to be encountered in broadacre crops and pastures, view the GRDC Back Pocket Guide – Beneficial Insects.
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
