Entomology Commons^™

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.

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.

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

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.

Selecting New Kinds Of Dung Beetles For Better Bush Fly Control, T J. Ridsdill-Smith

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

Native dung beetles are found in south-western Australia, but they are largely restricted to areas of natural vegetation where they feed on dung pellets of marsupials.

When European man cleared the land, planted pastures and introduced cattle, he created a new type of environment which did not suit most native beetles. Cattle dung accumulated, and the bush fly Musca vetustissima, found this a very favourable breeding site.

In an attempt to correct this inbalance, other types of dung beetles addapted to living in open pastures are being introduced by CSIRO. These introduced beetles can reduce fly numbers by increasing the …

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.

Learning To Live With Spotted Alfalfa Aphid, M Grimm

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

The spotted alfalfa aphid which can devastate lucerne crops and perhaps also medic pastures, has been established in Western Australia since early 1978. However several methods of control are being developed, which could allow continued production of lucerne.

Armyworm Control In Coarse Grain Crops, G D. Rimes

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

Investigations of armyworm infestations carried out in Western Australia during 976 have shown that a complex of three species is involved in the spasmodic outbreaks that may cause damage to course grain crops.

This article looks at the economics of control methods.

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 …

Rapeseed. 2. Insect Control, J A. Button, D. L. Hardy

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

RAPESEED crops are highly susceptible to attack from a number of insects and, in most cases, some crop protection measures will be necessary to achieve satisfactory yields.

This article discusses the insects that have been a problem in rapeseed crops in Western Australia to date.

How To Control Flystrike In Sheep, H E. Fels

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

FLYSTRIKE affects incomes and efficiency because a large part of the work done on sheep farms is to prevent or treat it, and because it kills sheep and reduces the amount and quality of production.

Flystrike Control Programmes, H E. Fels

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

THE various flystrike control methods all avoid susceptible patches of skin on the sheep.

To avoid work—

• choose methods that give the most control for the least effort, and

• combine these methods into a system that works well.

Flystrike Control Methods, H E. Fels

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

A short article outlining methods to control flystrike.

Control Of Insects In Cotton, D G. Shedley, D. L. Hardy, P. J. Michael

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

Results of two experiments at the Ord Irrigation area in 1968 indicate that farmers may be spending more than necessary to obtain economic control of cotton pests in some seasons.

One experiment clearly demonstrated the relationship between low insect numbers and improved cotton yields—the second indicated that a moderate but well timed spray schedule, especially during the early part of the season, can result in more economic insect control than an intensive spray schedule.

Simple Treatment Will Protect Farm-Stored Grain, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

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

WITH unusually large quantities of grain likely to be stored on farms this season, 1970 will be an important year for the control of pests in stored grain.

Infested grain from farms is responsible for almost all outbreaks of infestation in bulk storages, leading to costly treatment by the grain handling authority. Effective control on the farm would eliminate most of this.

Grasshoppers And Locusts In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

GRASSHOPPERS and locusts are among the most ancient enemies of the farmer, for they figured prominently in Biblical times, and periodically throughout the ages have devastated crops in all parts of the world.

Cockroaches And Their Control, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

SEVERAL species of cockroaches are general household pests.

In this country some of the native varieties have become semi-domesticated and, in addition, two or three introduced forms are quite common.

The Australian Field Cricket, J A. Button

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

THE Australian field cricket, or the black field cricket as it is sometimes known, is a native of Australia and is widely distributed throughout the south western, south and south eastern sections of the continent.

Citrus Red Scale Control, G D. Rimes

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

THE RED SCALE (Aonidiella aurantii Masc.) is widely distributed throughout the world and is a serious pest in countries with semi-arid climates such as California, South Africa, Palestine and Australia.

The home of the pest is probably China, but it has been known in Australia for over 70 years and it was introduced into North America from the continent.

Control Of Prodenia Litura On Cotton In The North Of Western Australia, P N. Forte, D. G. Shedley

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

COTTON is subject to considerable insect attack at the new Ord River irrigation area in the East Kimberleys of Western Australia.

Although a long list of insects have been recorded as damaging cotton in this area there are two which have proved so far to present the biggest problem.

These are Heliothis punctigera and Prodenia litura.

Lice And Keds In Sheep, C R. Toop

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

BODY LICE and the so called ticks or keds are the most serious of the external parasites which infest sheep in Western Australia.

Unless they are controlled by systematic dipping, these pests can cause considerable financial loss to flock owners.

Spraying For Grasshopper Control, T J. Tozer

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

A BIG increase in cereal growing in the "hopper" belt has brought a general improvement in the grasshopper situation over the past few years.

This highlights the emphasis entomologists have placed on cultivation as the best known way of controlling grasshoppers.

The Webworm. 4. Control Of The Webworm, J A. Button

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

EARLIER articles in this series have provided a broad oatline of the biology, life history and ecology of the webworm.

In this article chemical and cultural methods of control are considered in relation to this background information.

Ant Pests In Western Australia, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

THERE are many different species of native ants in Western Australia, but few of these are of major economic importance.

Several introduced species however, have spread extensively and have proved troublesome both as agricultural and household pests.

Insect Pests Of Lawns., D G. Shedley

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

Lawns provide a home for many and varied insects. Although a large number do little or no damage there are some which, if left unchecked, will make it impossible to maintain the grass in good condition.

SPRAYING with insecticides is not always the best answer to pest problems. Manuring, cutting and watering must be maintained at proper levels. In fact, if this is not done the attacks of at least some pests will be more severe.

Some Experiments In Citrus Red Scale Control, G D. Rimes

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

THE red scale (Aonidiella aurantii Masc.) is widely distributed throughout the world but tends to be a serious pest in those countries with semi-arid climates such as California, South Africa, Palestine and Australia.

The home of the pest is probably China, but it has been known in Australia for over 70 years and it was from the continent that it was introduced into North America.

Control Of San Jose Scale, G D. Rimes

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

W ITH an export rejection rate in excess of 10,000 cases per year, the apple industry in W.A. is continually confronted with the problem of San Jose Scale control.

Mulesing And Tailstripping : For The Prevention Of Fly-Strike, W L. Mcgarry

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

MULESING and tailstripping are basic to fly strike control.

During emergencies and bad fly waves they may need to be supplemented by temporary protective measures such as jetting and crutching.

Insect Pests And Their Control, Clee Francis Howard Jenkins

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

METHODS of insect control are sometimes classified under the following four headings— Quarantine, Cultural Methods, Biological Control and Chemical Treatments.

Each method has its own particular part to play in preventing the spread and multiplication of insect pests and it is essential for maximum results that everyone— whether he be a commercial grower or a backyard gardener—has a general understanding of the principles involved.