African Black Beetle is a pasture pest found mainly in warmer, high rainfall environments of Australia. Traditionally African Black Beetle has been found around south-western Western Australia and from the coastal south-eastern mainland of NSW around Bega up to South East Queensland (DPI). Their incidence through the North East ranges of Victoria has been a relatively new occurrence, particularly in 2011 where they caused widespread damage to emerging pastures in autumn. Black beetle has however been an issue for East Gippsland for a number of years.
The damage caused by African Black Beetle depends on whether it is the larval stage (similar appearence to Cockchafer grubs) or adult beetle stage. Generally the larval stage causes issues during summer (December – February) where they chew on the roots of grasses (e.g. perennial ryegrass) restricting root growth and causing plants to be pulled. Damage caused by the adult stage is generally present from late summer and autumn (February – April) where they cause considerable damage to emerging seedlings chewing the tillers around the base of the emerging plant, just above the ground, killing them. While the beetle stage is present though winter and spring they don’t cause considerable damage to pasture during this time.
Adult and Larval stages of African Black Beetle above. Source Dairy NZ.
Control of African Black Beetle can be acheived by;
- cultivating the larval stage during summer
- using insecticides to control adult beetles in autumn
- using endophytes such as AR37 which have protection against ABB once established.
- using Gaucho treated seed for control of ABB at seedling stage
- using a break crop using a species that larval stage doesn't feed on such as brassica.
For more information contact Smyth Seeds on (03) 5762 5288.
No comments:
Post a Comment