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Each year, much of the Australian cropping zone is ‘invaded’ by migrations of native budworm moths (Helicoverpa punctigera), which then lay their eggs in pulses and canola. These moths exploit flowering native plants across Australia’s inland to produce a winter-spring generation. The size and timing of migrations vary from year to year, depending on the suitability of inland conditions, and the prevailing weather systems. Typically, moths begin to arrive in early September.
Earlier this year, record rains (decile 10) fell across the northern reaches of South Australia in early April. These were both heavier and earlier than ‘usual’. It is therefore plausible that the rains produced perfect conditions for extensive breeding of native budworm and that the mass emergence may occur earlier than usual. Consequently, large numbers of moths may start to appear from now. South Australian entomologists and Victorian agronomists have already observed some moths in traps and a few larvae in pulse crops.
Monitoring for native budworm larvae should commence in pulse and canola crops entering the susceptible flowering and podding stages, particularly from late August.
*Sources of field reports of native budworm
Bill Kimber – Entomologist, SARDI (Adelaide)
Rob Sonogan – Agronomist, AGRIvision (Victorian Mallee)
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.
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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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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.”
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