Pests
European earwig
European earwig has a very broad host range, feeding on a variety of horticultural and broadacre crops. Earwigs can be particularly damaging in stone fruit crops including cherries where they feed on stems and fruit. In apples, earwigs do not generally attack the crop, and are considered an important beneficial…
Pear leaf blister mite
The pear leaf blister mite is a problem mostly in pears, but can occasionally affect apples.
Light brown apple moth
The light brown apple moth (LBAM) is a native Australian leaf roller with a wide host range including fruit crops, broadleaf pasture and weed species.
New chemistry in codling moth battle
New chemistry was used last season by apple growers in Victoria’s Goulburn Valley to tackle significant pests, including the damaging codling moth.
Manage plague thrips
Plague thrips are a native insect that is primarily a concern when present in large numbers from pink bud to early fruit set. They can damage both pome and stone fruits.
Mealybugs
Mealybugs are sap-sucking insects that will feed on a wide range of tree crops. They can shelter in the calyx of pome fruits and are a pest of concern for export markets.
Carpophilus beetle
Carpophilus can cause significant damage to fruit, both on the tree and postharvest, especially when temperatures exceed 20C after wet weather and when the fruit is ripening.
Cherry aphid
Adult cherry aphids are dark coloured and approximately 2 mm in size. The adult population consists of winged and wingless individuals.
Budworms (Heliothis)
Helicoverpa species (commonly known as budworms) can cause substantial crop damage and are becoming more common across all Australian growing regions. The moth larvae can cause extensive feeding damage and also create entry points for secondary pests and diseases.
Calculating degree days for moth pests
Temperature is a key driver of insect development. Degree days (DD) is a measure of temperature over time and it is used to predict the timing of life stages of certain insect pests.A degree day model counts the total time that temperature is above the minimum required for the pest…
Entrust® Organic—naturally derived, highly effective, fast-acting
In 1982 a research scientist discovered a unique soil bacterium that produces active metabolites (spinosyns) that gave excellent control of certain insect pests. Years of development and exhaustive testing followed, culminating in the release of Entrust® Organic, a product characterised by its efficacy equivalent to synthetic insecticides, but with the…
Pome & stone fruit growers benefit from new insecticide
Vayego® 200 SC is a new tool for pome and stone fruit growers to control key pests such as codling moth, carpophilus beetle, apple weevil and Mediterranean fruit fly.With a brand-new registration, Vayego® 200 SC insecticide from Bayer is now available to pome and stone fruit growers.
