A variety of mites are active
Brown wheat mites
- Kondut
Cameron Smith (Elders) has found high numbers of newly hatched brown wheat mites feeding on a seedling wheat crop at East Kondut. The report was submitted via the department's MyPestGuide Reporter app.
Brown wheat mites usually only cause retardation in cereal seedlings if the seedlings are moisture stressed. In most cases crops outgrow any feeding damage and cooler winter temperatures and more frequent rainfall usually lead to a reduction in brown wheat mite numbers.
Brown wheat mites can be confused with bryobia mites. This highlights the need for correct identification of mites for effective mite control. You can report and confirm the identity of mites by using the PestFax Reporter app.
For more information on this mite visit the department’s Diagnosing brown wheat mite page.
Redlegged earth mites
- Goomalling
- Highbury
- Frankland
Dani Whyte (Planfarm) has started to find redlegged earth mites (RLEM) in crops at Goomalling. The mites were very tiny indicating they had recently hatched from over-summering eggs.
An Agworld user has reported finding RLEM winter eggs and hatchings in a three leaf oat crop near Highbury.
Tim Trezise (Frankland Rural) reports RLEM have started to hatch in the Frankland area. They are currently not causing any crop damage.
Remember RLEM surveys for resistance will again be undertaken in 2018. If you are noticing that RLEM are surviving registered rates of insecticide treatments or are causing damage to germinating crops consider contacting Alan Lord or Svetlana Micic to arrange for resistance testing.
For more information on RLEM and insecticide resistance refer to the department’s Diagnosing redlegged earth mite and Prevent redlegged earth mite resistance pages.
For more insecticide information on managing mites refer to DPIRD’s 2018 Autumn/Winter Insecticide Guide.
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.