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The Timerite® date is approaching for many localities and should be enacted if redlegged earth mite populations warrant it.
Crops and pastures should now be monitored for redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor, RLEM), which can build rapidly in spring. In problem paddocks, control can be timed to occur during a short window during spring when mites have ceased laying winter eggs (eggs that must hatch this season), and before they start laying diapause eggs (over-summering eggs that survive until next season).
This approach can significantly reduce RLEM numbers the following autumn.
The optimum ‘spring-spray’ dates for RLEM in eastern Australia are mostly between mid-September and mid-October.
Exact dates are available through the Timerite® website.
Some examples of the recommended dates are:
23rd September at HORSHAM
23rd September at ELMORE
29th September at WAGGA WAGGA
6th October at FORBES
16th October at COLAC
The date is based primarily on daylength and is therefore unique to each property. It is recommended that spraying be carried out within the two-week period before the optimal date.
Before using this approach, consideration should be given to the number of mites present and the susceptibility of the crop to be sown next season. Insecticides need to be used judiciously to avoid resistance issues, as recently observed in South Australia.
We encourage advisers and growers to follow the resistance management strategy when controlling redlegged earth mites in grain crops and pastures.
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.”
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0484 310 697
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