Author Archives: admin

Slugs in Seedling Crops

By admin | Published: December 13, 2010
The wet spring, early summer conditions have favoured the return of a pest not seen for many years – slugs!  Damaging slug populations, reported in seedling crops in northern NSW and southern Queensland, have totally destroyed some pulse crops.  Increased slug activity may also be due to the increase in zero/minimum till and stubble retention [...]
Posted in General | 1 Comment

Early Season Helicoverpa issues and the use of NPV to control larvae

By admin | Published: December 6, 2010
Helicoverpa populations have started with a bang this season.  One or more larvae per plant are common in pre-flowering sorghum, corn and cotton. However, early flowering sorghum crops are carrying up to 10 larvae per head.  Corn and sorghum (monocot crops) host only Helicoverpa armigera, not H. punctigera – which has implications for control.  Some [...]
Posted in helicoverpa, NPV, Sorghum | Leave a comment

Mirid research trials on the Darling Downs

By admin | Published: December 1, 2010
In order to keep you updated with entomology activities, the following article outlines the research trials to be conducted on mirids this season on the Darling Downs by Dr Moazzem Khan (Senior Entomologist, DEEDI, Toowoomba).
Posted in Cotton, mirids | 2 Comments

Helicoverpa larvae surviving in failed chickpea crops may be a threat to the following crop

By admin | Published: November 8, 2010
With some chickpea crops being sprayed out, rather than harvested, there are reports of helicoverpa larvae surviving on crop residues. The survival of larvae, particularly large late instar larvae, poses a threat to subsequent crops that may be sown directly into the chickpea residues. It is important to check for surviving larvae under the chickpea [...]
Posted in Chickpeas, helicoverpa | Leave a comment

ENDOSULFAN registration cancelled

By admin | Published: October 28, 2010
On the 12th of October, 2010, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) announced the immediate cancellation of all product registrations and label approvals for all insecticides containing endosulfan.
Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Black Soil Scarab Damage to Winter Cereals

By admin | Published: October 25, 2010
This winter we’ve seen several instances of severe scarab damage to winter cereals (wheat, barley and oats) , including on crops at Jandowae and Felton on the Darling Downs. The photograph below shows that severe damage is mostly confined to areas of paddocks which were previously pasture – and this is where the highest scarab [...]
Posted in barley, wheat, Winter cereals | 4 Comments

Good IPM starts in winter

By admin | Published: July 22, 2010
Farm hygiene underpins the successful management of a number of major pests. The recent appearance of solonopsis mealybug has highlighted again the importance of farm hygiene. We already know from past experiences with silverleaf whitefly, aphids and bunchy top that it makes economic sense to keep on top of weeds and volunteer cotton. Good farm hygiene over winter is an investment in next season’s crop.
Posted in aphids, mealybugs | Leave a comment

Season wrap-up for Whitefly in Cotton

By admin | Published: May 13, 2010
 Outlined in today’s blog are the results for whitefly parasitism assessments, whitefly species composition and whitefly resistance testing from the 2009-2010 cotton season. 
Posted in Silverleaf whitefly | Leave a comment

Avenge of the caterpillars…

By admin | Published: April 23, 2010
High rainfall and active plant growth have created perfect conditions for insects to build up in high numbers. On the Downs there have been reports of castor oil looper and common armyworm in plague numbers as well as other caterpillars including sorghum head caterpillar.
Posted in armyworm | Leave a comment

How to check for parasitism in whitefly populations.

By admin | Published: February 22, 2010
We have fielded numerous enquiries this week from consultants who would like to assess levels of whitefly parasitism. This is achievable in the field with the use of a hand lens. Parasitism levels appear to be a little down from last year, but still good levels have been recovered. Parasitism so far has ranged from [...]
Posted in Natural enemies, Silverleaf whitefly | Leave a comment

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