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Consultant agronomist, Barry Haskins (Ag Grow), has reported significant issues with Etiella caterpillars in field pea crops around Griffith, in the Riverina district of New South Wales. Barry reports widespread damage across most field pea crops. Etiella (Etiella behrii), also known as the lucerne seed web moth, is a sporadic pest. It predominantly attacks lentils and lucerne, but is also found in lupins, field peas, peanuts, soybeans, vetch, medics and clovers. Barry says that in some paddocks, more than 30% of seedpods have been found with caterpillars inside them.
Etiella moths are 10-15 mm long, slender, grey-brown in colour and have a prominent beak. The forewings have a distinct white stripe running the full length along the front edge. Caterpillars are cream-pale green in colour with several pink-red stripes running along the back. They have a red-brown coloured head and grow up to 15 mm long. Female moths lay their eggs under the calyx or on the pod surface, and these hatch in 4–7 days depending on temperature.
Newly hatched Etiella caterpillars bore into immature seedpods within 24 hours of hatching and begin feeding on developing grain. As the larvae develop they feed on the seed causing seed damage and yield losses. Mature caterpillars will damage more than one single pod and have the ability to web seedpods together. Insecticides should be considered when moth activity is first observed to target the adults. Once eggs have been laid and larvae have bored into seedpods, the caterpillars are protected from insecticide applications. At this stage, there is no effective management option available to prevent crop damage.
Sweep netting is a common method used for estimating Etiella moth numbers. Lentil crops are most susceptible and should be sampled at least once a week during podding for evidence of Etiella activity. A minimum of 3 groups of 20 sweeps should be randomly undertaken within each crop. Recommended action thresholds are 1-2 Etiella moths in 20 sweeps.
Click here for further information about Etiella.
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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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