sustainability through science & innovation
The early April warnings of cowpea aphid have eventuated into serious pest threats in some regions of NSW and Victoria.
Where have they been reported?
Cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora) have been reported in very high numbers (>50 per plant) on a number of faba bean crops around Breeza, in the NSW North Western Slopes & Plains district. In some crops, almost 100% of plants were found with aphids. There is some concern that these aphids may transmit the subclover stunt virus, or go on to invade nearby chickpea crops. In the Victorian Mallee, crops of faba beans, lupins and vetch stretching from Murrayville over the Victorian border to Lamaroo have been heavily infested with cowpea aphids. Further details on the cowpea aphid can be found in PestFacts Issue No. 1.
Our advice
Growers should remain alert to the risk of aphids causing damage and spreading virus in legume crops, particularly grain legumes, this season. Expected losses from direct feeding of aphids on faba beans are unknown. The opportunity to avert the initial transmission of virus to crops has passed, assuming the invading aphids were viruliferous in the first place. The risk of further spread of viruses within crops depends upon the initial risk of virus in local, intermediary hosts. NSW DPI Plant Pathologist, Joop Vanlour, believes that the first symptoms of virus should appear by about the 10th of June.
Aphid populations are likely to decline with the recent onset of cooler temperatures, especially after frosts. There are no specific chemical recommendations in place for aphid control in faba beans. 'Softer' insecticides, particularly pirimicarb, are the preferred option as they provide excellent knockdown of aphids but are relatively harmless to beneficial insects. It is the beneficials that often contain subsequent aphid populations.
* Sources of field reports of cowpea aphids
Peter Gibbs, Agronomist, Gibbs Agricultural Consulting (Victorian Mallee)
Joop Vanlour, Plant Pathologist, NSW DPI (NSW North Western Slopes & Plains)
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
