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.
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 key issues relevant to dealing… Read more »
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).
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 residues before the next crop… Read more »
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 populations were found.
Distinguishing ‘brown’ stink bugs from each other. Adults brown stink bugs (Dictyotus caenosus) are shield shaped, matt brown, and smaller than green vegetable bug (GVB), about 7 – 8 mm long (Plate 1). They may be confused with glossy shield bug (Cermatulus nasalis) which is a slightly larger predatory bug, and with rice spotting bug (Eysarcoris distinctus) which is smaller… Read more »
While soybeans are more likely to be attacked by helicoverpa from flowering onwards, severe infestations can occur as early as the seedling stage. In recent years, severe early infestations have been reported on the Downs and in the coastal Burnett with the affected crops experiencing significant yield losses. The latest published thresholds for helicoverpa in vegetative soybeans (Rogers and Brier,… Read more »
However, in some years, very high pest activity results in more severe cob damage, with larvae often tunnelling into the sides of cobs. In such cases grain samples may contain fungus-affected grains and mycotoxins, causing a downgrade in the quality of harvested grain.
Outbreaks of mealybugs have recently been reported from a number of cotton farms in central Queensland. While mealybugs are considered a minor pest of cotton, they have, on rare occasions, reached minor outbreak levels or ‘hotspots’ in commercial crops in central Queensland
Just when you thought things were going along pretty well, something else pops out of the woodwork to bring you back down to earth. Some cotton consultants and their grower clients are concerned about the high numbers of thrips in their young cotton seedlings. Are they are problem? Do we need to control them?