There have been several reports of seedling thrips in spring mungbean crops in the Goondiwindi region. Seedling thrips (Thrips tabaci) are also known as winter cereal thrips or cotton seedling thrips. The thrips move out of winter cereals when these start to dry off into new green spring growth such as mungbean, navy beans or cotton. Spring planted crops, especially… Read more »
Crops are most susceptible to pest damage at the seedling stage. Pests feeding on seedlings can reduce plant establishment, increase weed competition, delay flowering and lower yields. In some cases there may be a need for re-sowing. Most of the establishment pests found in the northern region are soil-dwelling insects. Soil insects may be difficult to detect prior to sowing…. Read more »
The white-fringed weevil (Naupactus leucoloma) originates from South America and was first reported in NSW in 1932. Although generally associated with warm moist conditions, this pest is now found in many cropping areas throughout Australia and they appear to be increasing their range. Infestations often go unnoticed until crops are planted and once they are established they are difficult to… Read more »
The 2013/14 soybean growing season has been challenging for many growers with very low rainfall and high temperatures until late March. Crop stress was sometimes wrongly attributed to insect pests although a number of crops were infested with more unusual pests such as etiella. The high temperatures also increased the impact of lucerne crown borer in infested crops.
On the Darling Downs there have been a number of reports of common armyworm causing significant defoliation in sorghum, corn and millet. Jimbour grower John Alexander treated a severely defoliated sorghum crop two weeks ago. Millet and corn crops in the same area have also been affected. Although patchy, the outbreaks have the potential to cause significant yield loss if… Read more »
Over the past few years the Queensland DAFF entomology team has led a team of national collaborators to develop an exciting new national ‘IPM guidelines for grains’ website. The website focuses on the major grain crops and their pests, and includes a range of supporting information to guide users in making pest management decisions.
Please note: these workshops have been postponed to a later date
An estimated 4,000 ha of soybeans near Casino in Northern NSW have been affected to varying degrees by soybean stem fly (Melanagromyza sojae) , a pest rarely seen in damaging numbers in Australia. Damage in many Casino crops is confounded by the presence of charcoal rot, a disease which blocks the plant’s vascular (xylem and phloem) tissue and causes similar… Read more »
DAFF Queensland entomologists have confirmed a small outbreak of Solenopsis mealybug (Phenacoccus solenopsis) on a cotton property west of Dalby on the Darling Downs. This is the same species of mealybug that affected cotton crops in Emerald and the Burdekin in 2010 and more recently in the South Burnett.
The recently published “Good Bug, Bad Bug” insect identification guide will be an invaluable tool for pulse producers in Queensland and NSW. The new guide features over 300 glossy photos of insects found in pulse crops and will help growers and their advisers to confidently identify the pest and beneficial insects that occur in their crops. Hugh Brier, DEEDI Senior… Read more »
