There have been several reports of high numbers of apple dimpling bug (ADB) in early squaring cotton throughout the major cotton growing valleys. Also known as the yellow mirid, ADB adults (about 3mm long) are about one third the size of green mirid adults. They are yellow-green, have dark spines on the legs and hairy wings that are folded flat on… Read more »
As the earlier plantings of sorghum progress through flowering, moderate to high Helicoverpa pressure means that many crops have caterpillar numbers over threshold. Nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) is one of the main insecticides used to control Helicoverpa larvae in sorghum, however prevailing conditions play an important role in the speed and level of control achieved with NPV.
As the cotton season gets underway aphids are starting to be detected in crops, on ratoons, volunteers and weeds. Last season, there were some regions where Cotton Bunchy Top (CBT) was detected in crops towards the end of the season. To assess and manage the risk of yield loss caused by CBT, and minimise the difficulties of controlling insecticide resistant… Read more »
Dr Paul Grundy has joined the Field Crops Entomology team in Toowoomba as Senior Entomologist. Paul has moved to Toowoomba from Ayr where he was involved in evaluating the viability of cotton production in the Burdekin.
Last season was a somewhat low pressure year for silverleaf whitefly (SLW) in all cotton districts. The low pressure may have been attributed in part to high rainfall especially through central Queensland which does not favour whitefly population build up. St George and Mungindi districts still reached densities that exceeded the recommended insecticide spray thresholds although they generally fitted into… Read more »
As winter crops finish up and approach harvest, there are a couple of pests that still have the potential to cause some concerns. Armyworm and helicoverpa in barley, wheat and oats. There have been a number of reports of armyworm activity across the northern region in isolated pockets. Armyworm has the capacity to lop heads in barley, wheat and oats… Read more »
More than 50 researchers, extension staff and industry representatives attended this year’s IPM forum in Toowoomba. The IPM forum is an annual event and brings together researchers and industry to discuss the latest research and developments in pest management for the Northern region. Topics presented at the forum consist of a mix of current research and industry-ready research outcomes. Below… Read more »
Two spotted mites (TSM) or red spider mites have been reported in damaging numbers in many mungbean crops on the Darling Downs and in Northern NSW. Crops at particular risk are those adjacent to maturing cotton (or any other mite hosts) from which mites are dispersing in large numbers. As TSM are very small (0.5 mm) the first evidence of their… Read more »
Over the past few weeks there have been reports of cotton stainers in cotton crops in Central Queensland and on the Darling Downs. This week we received photographs of ‘stainers’ from CQ which raised the importance of correct identification.
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 practices which favour slug and… Read more »
