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Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

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Strepsipteran Parasitism Of White Leafhoppers, Cofana Spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) In Lowland Rice In Côte D’Ivoire, I. O. Oyediran, A. Ndongidila, E. A. Heinrichs

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Three tests were conducted over a 2-year period in lowland irrigated rice fields on the WARDA Research Station at Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire, to obtain information on the strepsipteran parasitism of white leafhoppers, Cofana spectra and C. unimaculata. Rice cultivars were sampled with a sweep net to collect leafhoppers for determination of the relative abundance of the two leafhopper species and the effect of rice cultivar and rice crop age on the leafhopper populations and percent strepsipteran parasitism. Dissections of the leafhoppers were made to determine the relative number of the various parasitic stages in the leafhoppers. Cofana unimaculata populations …

Bulletin 4385 - Control Of Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Medfly) In Commercial Orchards, Sonya Broughton, Francis De Lima

Bulletins 4000 -

The Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) is thought to originate from tropical Africa. It is a pest in many areas of the world including Western Australia. It was first detected at Claremont in 1895 and is now found as far south as Esperance and as far north as Derby. The main area of infestation extends from Carnarvon to Bunbury.

Medfly is known to infest over 200 fruit and vegetable species. In Western Australia, stone fruit, pome fruit, citrus, guavas, figs and loquats are particularly susceptible.

Crop Updates 1999 - Cereals, Len W. Broadbridge, Doug Abrecht, D. Bakker, Greg Hamilton, Cliff Spann, Doug Rowe, Peter Fisher, Jennifer Bignell, Matthew Braimbridge, Bill Bowden, Ross Brennan, Reg Lunt, Senthold Asseng, Cherie Rowles, Simon Bedbrook, Chris Gazey, Mike Bolland, Garren Knell, Lyn Abbott, Zed Rengel, Wayne Pluske, Erin Cahill, Bill Crabtree, Matthew Evans, Tim Nielsen, Jat Bhathal, Rob Loughman, D. Rasmussen, Roger A C Jones, Sean Kelly, Ian Riley, Sharyn Tayor, Vivien Vanstone, Dominie Wright, Debbie Thackray, Simon Mckirdy, George Yan, Robin Wilson, Iain Barclay, Robin Mclean, Dean A. Diepeveen, Bill Lambe, Wal Anderson, Brenda Shackley, Mechelle Owen, Peter Burgess, Ben Curtis, Mohammed A. Hamza, Jamie Henderson, Frank Boetel, Alfredo Impiglia, Frances Hoyle, Darshan Sharma, Pierre Fievez, Blakely Paynter, Glenn Macdonald, Kevin Young, Andrew Blake, Keith Devenish, P J. Dolling, Roy Latta, Lisa-Jane Blacklow, Chris Matthews, Angelo Loi, Brad Nutt, Rochelle Mcrobb, David Webb, Andrew Mcrobb, Clinton K. Revell, James Ridsdill-Smith, Celia Pavri, David Tennant, Darryl Mclements, Ross Thompson, Mike Ewing, Tim Woodburn, Paul Yeoh, James Fisher, Art Diggle, Mark Whitten, Andrew Rate, Paul Carlile, Ed Blanchard, Bevan Buirchell, Lorraine Osborne, Tress Walmsley, Terry Piper, Cameron Weeks, Michael Dodd, Amanda Falconer, Caroline Peek, Glenn Adam, Camray Gethin, Richard Guinness, Daniel Fels, Andrew Rintoul, Mal Lamond, Roger Tapp, Craig White

Crop Updates

This article covers sixty papers

FOREWORD

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PLENARY PAPERS

1. Western Australia’s climate: trends and opportunities, Len W. Broadbridge, Director, Bureau of Meterorology

2. Managing seasonal variations in agriculture, Dr Doug Abrecht, Director, Dryland Research Institute, Merredin

CROP ESTABLISHMENT

3. Soil management to prevent waterlogging on duplex soils in the Great Southern, D. Bakker, Greg Hamilton, Cliff Spann and Doug Rowe, Agriculture Western Australia

4. The influence of no-till and press wheels on crop production for heavy soils, Peter Fisher, Jennifer Bignell, Matthew Braimbridge, Greg Hamilton, Agriculture

Western Australia

NUTRITION

5. Fertiliser nitrogen, applied late, needs …

Technique For Rlem Screening In Glasshouse, Krzysztof S. Gajda

Grain and other field crops published reports

The redlegged earth mite (RLEM) Halotydeus destructor (Tucker) (Acarina: Penthaleidae) is an introduced, major pest of crops and pastures across south Australia. RLEM adversely effect pasture by destroying legume seedlings in germinating pastures and reducing pasture production and seed yield. One of the ways to reduce the effect of RLEM is by breeding legume cultivars with RLEM resistance. This involves screening of many hundreds of potentially resistant plants and lines in a short time. In WA, at Agriculture Western Australia, South Perth, a screening program for resistance to RLEM in subterranean clover (Trifolium subterranean) and annual medics (Medicago ssp.) has …

Seasonal Occurrence Of Rice Yellow Mottle Virus In Lowland Rice In Côte D’Ivoire, E. A. Heinrichs, A. A. Sy, S. K. Akator, I. Oyediran

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Monthly plantings of the rice variety Bouaké 189 were made under lowland irrigated conditions, to obtain information on the phenological and seasonal occurrence of pests and diseases on the West African Rice Development Association (WARDA) research farm near Bouaké, Côte d’Ivoire. Regular sampling of insect pests and observations on rice yellow mottle virus (RYMV) disease infection throughout the year provided information on the occurrence of RYMV and potential insect vectors. RYMV incidence and grain yields varied depending on planting date, and for a given planting date, varied from one year to another. There was no evidence that RYMV incidence increases …

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.

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.

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.

Estimation Of Rice Yield Losses Due To The African Rice Gall Midge, Orseolia Oryzivora Harris And Gagne, Souleymane Nacro, E. A. Heinrichs, D. Dakouo

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

The African rice gall midge, Orseolia oryzivora Harris and Gagne (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is an important pest of rice, Oryza sativa, in Burkina Faso as well as other countries in West and East Africa. In spite of its importance, little is known regarding the relationship between gall midge populations and grain yield losses. To determine yield losses, the gall midge was reared in cages, and adult midges were placed on caged plants of the rice variety ITA 123 at different population levels. The seven treatments consisted of different numbers of insects infested on the plants: 0 insect pairs (noninfested check), …

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.

Bulletin 4294 - Virus Diseases Of Lupins, Roger Jones

Bulletins 4000 -

Two virus diseases pose a serious threat to lupins. These are caused by cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), which induces diseases in narrow-leafed and yellow lupins, and bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV), which infects all types of cultivated lupins. The effects of the viruses on lupin plants range from subtle colour changes and leaf distortion to leaf shedding, stunting and death. Seed production is decreased or prevented. There is no cure, but lupin crops can be managed to minimise both virus spread and its persistence from year to year.

CMV and BYMV occur within all tissues in the plant, but do …

Bulletin 4241 - Chemical Control Of Insect Pests In Field Crops And Pastures, T. P. Quinn, G. P. Mangano, P. J. Michael

Bulletins 4000 -

Chemicals currently registered in Western Australia for use against pests of field crops and pasture are given in the table below. Trade names are listed alongside each chemical formulation.

Department of Agriculture Bulletin 4185 "Insect and allied pests of extensive fanning" will help you identify the pest(s) through coloured photographs, descriptions and keys. Information on the type of damage, life cycle and control is also provided. Further information is available in Farmnotes on specific pests and on pests of a particular crop.

The Poison Schedule for each product is indicated in the table. Extremely toxic chemicals are labelled as "dangerous …

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.

On The Trail Of The Native Budworm, Kevin Walden

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

Native budworm, the worst pest of lupins, is a bit of a uiill-o-the-unsp. Some years the native budworm moths go virtually unnoticed. In others, they appear in plague proportions without warning - in these years, the cost to growers in lost yield runs into millions of dollars.

If an early warning system can be developed to predict the extent of moth flights into lupin crops, and this seems possible, major crop losses could be averted.

The Department of Agriculture has started research to develop a system of predicting the size of spring flights of native budworm moth. We need to …

Pesticide Use On Crops In Nebraska - 1987, Maurice Baker, Nancy Peterson, Shripat T. Kamble

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

This is the third and most comprehensive study of pesticide use on crops in Nebraska. The first was completed in 1978 and the second one in 1982. The first study indicated that approximately 25 million pounds (11.34 million kg) of active ingredients were used on the major crops in Nebraska. This increased to approximately 30.2 million pounds (13.7 million kg) in 1982. The USDA requires accurate information to meet their responsibilities. Thus, this survey was undertaken to determine: 1) the use of pesticides on crops, pasture and rangeland and 2) to identify pest management practices.

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.

A Guide To The Identification And Control Of Insect Pests In Maize Crops Grown Int He Ord River Irrigation Area, S.E. Learmonth

Grain and other field crops published reports

The importance of insect pests in Ord maize crops is seasonal both in terms of their abundance and the species present. It is therefore desirable that the main pests of maize can be recognized quickly and appropriate action taken to avoid crop loss

In this guide, all of the common insect pests likely to be encountered in Ord maize crops are described. Photographs of only the more important of these and some of their natural enemies are included. Any insect that cannot be readily identified may be taken to the office of the Department of Agriculture.

A section on insect …

Day-Degree Methods For Pest Management, Kenneth P. Pruess

Department of Entomology: Faculty Publications

Recommendations are made for reporting day-degree methods which may have practical applications. Standardized thresholds (40, 50, and 60°F, or 5, 10, and 15°C) should be used. Day-degrees may be either sine wave approximations or exact units determined by instrumentation. Methods are proposed for converting current day-degree models to standardized thresholds and, ultimately, to actual day-degrees.

Alfalfa Insect Management Studies 1971-77, G. R. Manglitz, W. R. Kehr, D. L. Keith, J. M. Mueke, J. B. Campbell, R. L. Ogden, T. P. Miller

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

Three tests in southwestern Nebraska during 1971 and 1972 evaluated insecticides against the army cutworm. Adult alfalfa weevils did not damage new second growth alfalfa in a small plot study during a 3-year period (1973-1975) at Gothenburg, NE. However, excellent control of larval alfalfa weevils was obtained. These results indicated a need to establish economic threshold levels for the alfalfa weevil in Nebraska to prevent unnecessary use of insecticides. Four tests to control the alfalfa weevil with registered insecticides verified the efficacy of these materials under Nebraska conditions. A series of tests conducted during 1975 at the Mead Field Laboratory …

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.

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.

A New Approach To Grain Insect Control, G D. Rimes, M. T. Sexton

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

Western Australian farmers now have a legal responsibility to control stored grain insects on their farms.

Ten species of insects, usually referred to collectively as 'weevils', have been 'declared' under the Agriculture and Related Resources Act.

In Western Australia, grain storage insects are not found in standing cereal crops. Thus, it should be possible to set up a clean delivery "pipeline" from the paddock to the C.B.H. bin.

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.

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 …

Management Of Four Alfalfa Varieties To Control Damage From Potato Leafhoppers, W. R. Kehr, R. L. Ogden, J. D. Kindler

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

The main purpose of this study was to obtain information on forage yield and quality of four alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varieties that differed in level of resistance to potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae Harris) yellowing, when cut at three stages of growth in the second and third cuttings in field plots, with and without insecticide application. The stages of growth were bud, 1/10, and full bloom. Other purposes included study of the same varieties in field cages manually infested at 20, 40, and 60 adult leafhoppers/square yard, and in supplemental cuttings of field plots under high natural infestation …

Bionomics Of Insects Associated With Corn In The Nebraska Sandhills, J. L. Wedberg, J. B. Campbell, T. J. Helms

Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station: Historical Research Bulletins

Investigations were conducted in the Nebraska Sandhills to determine the impact of transition from grassland to irrigated corn on selected insect species, to identify indigenous species that may be economically important to corn production, and to provide a point of reference for future development of pest management programs for irrigated corn.

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.