Lucerne flea insecticide resistance testing is available this season
- Northampton
- Greenhills
- Kulin
Lindsay Box (Farmer) reports that lucerne flea are active in germinating Mace wheat at Northampton. The lucerne flea are causing moderate damage to wheat crops sown into heavy soils.
A farmer has had to spray for lucerne flea across many crops on his property at Greenhills.
Dani Whyte (Planfarm) has found signification numbers of lucerne flea damaging canola crops at Kulin.
To view previously reported lucerne flea activity this season refer to the department’s PestFax map.
Insecticide resistance testing in 2018
Lucerne flea are currently not known to be resistant to any insecticides but as part of a national GRDC funded project DPIRD are interested in sampling any lucerne flea populations that survive registered rates of insecticide treatments.
So, if you do find surviving lucerne flea after spraying please contact DPIRD officers Svetlana Micic, Albany on 0427 772 051 or Alan Lord, South Perth on 0409 689 468. Arrangements will be made to have the lucerne flea tested for resistance.
This lucerne flea resistance project is being led by the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research in collaboration with CSIRO and DPIRD.
For insecticide information on managing lucerne flea refer to DPIRD’s 2018 autumn/winter insecticide guide.
For more lucerne flea information refer to the departments Diagnosing lucerne flea page and the 2018 PestFax Issue 8 article Growers and consultants are urged to check for lucerne flea and mites.
For more insect information contact Svetlana Micic, Research Officer, Albany on +61 (0)8 9892 8591 or Dustin Severtson, Development Officer, Northam on +61 (0)8 9690 2160 or Alan Lord, Technical Officer, South Perth on +61 (0)8 9368 3758.