Entomology Commons^™

Crop Updates 2009 - Cereals, Jeff Baldock, Doug Edmeades, Mark Seymour, Paul Carmody, Ian Pritchard, Alan Meldrum, Michael Robertson, Roger Lawes, Rob Sands, Peter White, Felicity Byrne, Andrew Bathgate, Kedar Adhikari, Tanveer Khan, Stuart Morgan, Alan Harris, P. Gaur, K. M. H. Siddique, H. Clarke, N. C. Turner, W. Macleod, S. Morgan, Chris Veitch, Tony Leonforte, Kith Jayasena, Geoff Thomas, Rob Loughman, Kazue Tanaka, Ravjit Khangura, M. Amjad, Richard Oliver, Dusty Severtson, Peter Mangano, John Botha, Brenda Coutts, Manisha Shankar, Kasia Rybak, Michael Baker, Andrea Hills, Shahajahan Miyan, Peter Portmann, Nicole Rice, Robert Henry, Jeff J. Russell, B. H. Paynter, Linda Price, Brenda Shackley, Vicki Scanlan, Darshan Sharma, Christine Zaicou-Kunesch

Crop Updates

This session covers twenty seven papers from different authors:

PLENARY

1. Building soil carbon for productivity and implications for carbon accounting, Jeff Baldock, CSIRO Land and Water, Adelaide, SA

2. Fact or Fiction: Who is telling the truth and how to tell the difference, Doug Edmeades, agKnowledge Ltd, Hamilton

3. Four decades of crop sequence trials in Western Australia, Mark Seymour,Department of Agriculture and Food

BREAK CROPS

4. 2008 Break Crops survey Report, Paul Carmody,Development Officer, Department of Agriculture and Food

5. Attitudes of Western Australian wheatbelt growers to ‘Break Crops’, Paul Carmody and Ian …

The Fight Against Fruit Flies In Western Australia, Andy Sproule, Sonya Broughton, Francis De Lima, Darryl Hardie, Nic Monzu, Bill Woods

Bulletins 4000 -

Western Australia’s horticulture industry is one of the State’s growing success stories, from mangoes at Kununurra to cherries at Mt Barker. The prospects are bright, especially in export markets where ‘clean and green’ produce from Western Australia is truly valued.

One blight on this ‘clean and green’ image has been Mediterranean fruit fly or Medfly, the ‘world’s worst fruit pest’. First introduced over 100 years ago, the battle against this devastating pest has involved Government, growers and the general public.

This book is designed to provide an accurate but readable account of the fight against fruit fly, incorporating all the …

Aspects Of The Taxonomy And Ecology Of The Ground Beetle (Coleoptera: Carabidae) Assemblage Of The Swan Coastal Plain : (With Particular Reference To Habitat Fragmentation And The Quindalup Dune System), Nadine A. Guthrie

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Long term studies encompassing seasonal variation in abundance and species present, forming base-line phenological data, arc required to understand the responses of the carabid (Ground Beetle) fauna to major habitat changes. In addition, few habitats unaffected by human disturbance remain in Australia, and evaluation of these fauna in these areas is required before further habitat loss occurs. Generally an unknown group of terrestrial predatory invertebrates in Australia, carabids have been the subjects of few ecological studies in this country. This restricts the utility of the Carabidae in environmental or conservation assessment programs in Australia. A study was initiated to assess …

South-West Medlfy Study Highlights Improved Control Strategies, Sonya Broughton, Francis De Lima

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Mediterranean fruit fly has become an extremely important pest of commercial orchards in recent years, with there being numerous reports of control problems from fruit growing districts in the South-west of Western Australia. To assist in finding a solution to the problem of effective Medfly control, a study commenced in July 1995 to develop further understanding of Medfly ecology and to evaluate control strategies under varying climatic and management conditions in the South-west region. Sonya Broughton and Francis De Lima report on the outcomes of the three-year study.

Weevil Management In Orchards And Vineyards Looks Promising, Stewart Learmonth

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Research and monitoring undertaken by Agriculture Western Australia is showing that the management of weevils in Western Australia's orchard crops and vineyards is improving. A number of alternative management strategies are being implemented, and future research will assess the effectiveness of non-chemical approaches to weevil management.

Options For Pest Management In Pastures, Phil Michael, Mike Grimm, Mike Hyder, Peter Doyle

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Redlegged eath mit, blue oat ite, lucern flea and aphids damage pastures across southern Australia, and it has been estimated that they cause annual losses to the Australian wool industry alone of over $200 million.

Redlegged earth mite is without doubt the most serious of the four pests. Peter DoPhil Michael, Mike Grimm, Mike Hyder and Peter Doyle discuss intergrated management options to control these pests.

Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus And Its Management, Lindrea Latham, Roger Jones

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In 1993, western flower thrips, an important pest of horticultural crops, was found in Western Australia. Since then there has been an upsurge in damsging virus disease epidemics caused by tomato spotter wilt virus in horticultural crops. This has occurred because western flower thrips is a more effective vector of tomato spotted wilt virus than other thrips species. Lindrea Latham and Roger Jones outline the symptoms, spread and management of this serious virus disease in vegetables and ornamentals.

Cotton Rising From The Ashes, Georgina Wilson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Two hundred thousand dollars worth of quality cotton was deliberately destroyed by burning in the Kimberley last December. The same thing will probably happen again this year, but there will ne no cries of arson and police will not be seeking the perpetrators. Georgina Wilson reports on the emerging cotton industry on the Ord.

Sheep Blowflies Strike Out!, David Cook, Ian Dadour, Ernie Steiner

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Woolgrowers are constantly concerned that the sheep blowfly may be able to breed in sheep or other animal carcasses. David Cook, Ian Dadour and Ernis Steiner report on an experiment that answers that question once and for all.

Western Flower Thrips, David Cook, Ian Dadour, Ernie Steiner, Brett Scourse

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Western flower thrips (Franklinislla occidentalis Pergands) is a serious pest of floral and vegetable crops. From its original habitat in western USA it has now spread throughout North America, Mexico, New Zealand and Europe. David Cook, Ian Dadour, Ernis Steiner and Brett Scourse outline its biology and the control options available.

European Wasps : Eradicating An Unwanted Pest, Marc Widmer, John Van Schagen

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

European wasps were first found in Western Australis in 1977. Mark Widmer and John van Schagen outline the pest's life history and control progeams which are in place.

Cucumber Mosiac Virus In Lupins, Annette Bwye, Roger Jones, Wayne Proudlove

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Cucumber mosaic virus is a threat to lupin crops from Geraldton to Esperance, particularly to those growing in areas receiving more than 400 mm average annual rainfall. The disease markedly decreases grain yield in narrow-leafed and yellow lupins but doesnot infect albus or sandplain lupins. Worldwide , after bean yellow mosaic virus, cucumber mosaic virus is the second most important virus affecting lupins. Annette Bwye, Roger Jones and Wayne Proudlove outline the symptoms, spread and management of this serious disease.

A Benefit Cost Analysis Of The Proposal To Eradicate Mediterranean Fruit Fly From Western Australia, Kingsley Thomas Fisher, Richard Bleakley, Neil Thomson

Research Reports

It is estimated that it would cost between $205M and $250M to eradicated Mediterranean Fruit Fly (MFF) from Western Australia (WA). While eradication would be beneficial for fruit growers, it is unlikely that benefits would outweigh costs. The most important factor influencing the economic outcome is, how the eradication program affects the export volume and price of fruit.

War Against Codling Moth, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Residents of the tiny town of Bridgetown, in Western Australia's south-west, are at the front line in the campaign to eradicate an outbreak of codling moth from the State.

The Agriculture Protection Board, Department of Agriculture, Western Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, and other agencies are involved in the eradication program.

The Sheep Lice Detection Test, Peter Morcombe

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Sheep farmers would agree it is difficult to find sheep lice when carrying out an inspection.

The lice detection test makes this task easier and helps farmers decide how to control lice. The test also helps community liaison groups with eradication of lice infestations in specific areas, and provides data for epidemiologists to monitor changes in prevalence of lice and efficacy of treatments. Tests are much cheaper than flock inspection on the farm.

The present lice detection test was developed by the Australian Wool Testing Authority (A WTA) and introduced as an integral part of the Western Australian Sheep Lice …

Test Detects Resistant Green Peach Aphids In Lupins, Francoise Berlandier, Ian Dadour

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Confirmation of insecticide resistance in green peach aphid in Western Australia's lupin crops means farmers will have to choose insecticides much more carefully to control this pest. Resistance within an aphid population varies, and when resistant aphids are no longer exposed to insecticides, they may revert back to being susceptible in as little as one generation. Furthermore, when these revertant populations are exposed to the same insecticides in the future, resistance quickly reoccurs. In this article, the authors discuss a test to determine the extent of insecticide resistance in green peach aphid and how to manage it.

Integrated Control Of Soil Insect Pests Of Potatoes, Stewart Learmonth, John Matthiesson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

One of the more difficult aspects of growing potatoes in Western Australia is controlling soil insect pests. These pests have become more troublesome because the highly effective and persistent organochlorine insecticides previously used to control the main soil pests, African black beetle and whitefringed weevil, were deregistered for agricultural use in 1987. Entomologists from the Department of Agriculture and CSIRO in Western Australia are collaborating to develop new management strategies for these pests that rely less on the use of chemical insecticides

Biological Control Of Paterson's Curse, John Dodd, Bill Woods

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The long- delayed biological control programme for the weed Paterson's curse (Echium plantagineum) has begun with the release of the leaf mining moth (Dialectica scalariella)' an insect slightly bigger than a mosquito. Yhe caterpillar stage of the moth feeds inside the leaves, producing tunnels and chambers which damage the leaf.

The leaf mining moth has already become established in suitable areas. Although the familiar purple haze of Paterson's curse will continue to be seen for years to come, we expect that the leaf mining moth - and other agents yet to be released - will make it a more manageable …

The Queensland Fruit Fly Eradication Campaign, G P. Ayling

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Western Australia has started an extensive eradication campaign against the Queensland fruit fly, one of the worst horticultural pests in the world.

The programme, the largest of its kind in Australia, and one of the biggest in the world, involves the integration of three tequniques for fruit fly control: lure trapping, protien baiting and the release of sterile male flies.

Proceedings Of The Ninth Annual Joint Research Meeting Ccnt / Csiro / Dpif / Wada, Ian T. Riley

All other publications

Abstracts

Overview of WADA involvement in cropping the Kimberley - McGhie, D.A. WADA

Overview CSIRO Division Tropical Crpos and Pastures - Winter, W.H. CSIRO

An overview of a program for developing a comprehensive crop yield simulation in the tropics - McCown, R. CSIRO

Developing a family of crop models for SA using the CERES framwork - Carberry, P.S. CSIRO

Development of a model of the N cyle of crop-pasture rotations in the semi-arid tropic. - Dimes, J.P., McCowan, R.L. , Saffinga*, P.G. and Myers, R.J. CSIRO

Visual/Interactive CERES Models. - Hargreaves, J. and Carberry, P. CSIRO

The applicability of a …

Sheep Lice : Prospects For Eradication, F C. Wilkinson

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Sheep biting lice have been controlled over the past 86 years in Western australia by a combination of routine insecticidal treatment after shearing and action by the department of Agriculture officers under legislation.

In July 1987 the sheep industry and the State Government will implement a plan to eradicate lice from sheep flocks in the agricultural areas and eventually in the pastoral areas. To achieve this the co-operation of many sectors of the industry will be required. Assuming co-operation is forthcoming, it is possible that by 1996 wool from agricultural areas will be free of lice and insecticidal treatment form …

Broadacre Pest Control After Ddt, P J. Michael

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

DDT may no longer be applied to broadacre crops grown in Western Australia. It is being replaced by other more effective chemicals and with new methods of pest control. DDT was the most effective chemical for the control of several major broadacre pests in this State and farmers may well wonder why this change was necessary and how they will manage without DDT.

Fumigating A Farm To Control Grain Insects, J H. Moulden

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

During the past year, two major projects for control of grain insects were organised on Western Australian farms. Both excercises aimed to eradicate grain pests which would have seriously threatened grain exports if they had become established.

The fumigation was done jointly by the Entemology branch of the Department of Agriculture, and the Agricultural Protection Board.

New Dung Beetles At Work In Western Australia, T J. Ridsdill-Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Two kinds od dung beetles are active in the agricultural areas of Western australia. In one group are the native beetles which are mainly active in winter, and in the other group are beetles introduced from overseas. The introduced beetles are mainly active in summer and have already produced some spectacular results

New Header Treatment Aids Weevil Control, J H. Moulden

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A new insecticide formulation supplied in high pressure cylinders simplifies weevil control in headers.

The European Wasp : A New Threat To W.A, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The European wasp was detected in Western australia for the first time in January and February 1977 in the metropolitan suburbs of Mosman Park, Cottesloe and Attadale.

So far it has only been found within an area of 8 km radius from Fremantle but the outer boundries of the infestation are still uncertain.

It is Department of agriculture policy to eradicate the European wasp, if possible, and to destroy all nests detected.

W.A. Alert For Aphid On Lucerne, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The spotted alfalfa aphid which is devastating lucerne crops in the Eastern States, could be introduced to Western Australia on lucerne hay which is fed en route to imported livestock. The Department of Agriculture has therefore alerted all inspection points about the possible danger.

The Department of Agricultureis maintaining traps specifically for the aphid, and has found no evidence of it yet.

New Control For Esperance Armyworms, G R. Strickland, G. D. Rimes

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Armyworms are periodically responsible for serious cereal crop damage in Australia, often causing up to 80 per cent crop loss.

Amajor outbreak at Esperance in 1975 resulted in some 14,200 ha requiring treatment.

This was the first serious outbreak of armyworm for nine years in Western Australia.

A major new problem in the control of armyworm outbreaks is that use of DDT has been restricted by residue and withholding period problems, especially with a crop such as barley in which the grain is unprotected by glumes.

The trial results suggest that trichlorfon is a suitable material to eradicate armyworms and …

Biological Control Of Insects On The Ord. 1. Production Of Sitotroga Cerealella For Mass Rearing Of Trichogramma Wasps, M Grimm, P. J. T. Lawrence

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Department of Agriculture entomologists have developed a technique for the production and collection of eggs of the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) for mass-rearing the parasitic waspTrichogramma pretiosum Riley.

Trichogramma is giving promising results in trials aimed at developing biological control of insect pests in the Ord River Irrigation Area.

Virus Diseases In Agriculture, George Mclean

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Viruses are extremely small particles which can only be seen with an electron microscope. A virus is present in a diseased plant as huge numbers of tiny particles within the cells of the plant. Viruses which are infectious can cause disease, and reproduce only inside the cells of a living plant.

Many insects transmit plant virus diseases—aphids, leafhoppers, mealy bugs, thrips and beetles. Generally a virus is spread by only one of these groups of insects.

The Western Australian Department of Agriculture is expanding the diagnostic service for the identification of plant viruses.