Experimental and Applied Acarology (2010) 52, 141-153

Aston L. Arthur, Andrew R. Weeks, Paul A. Umina and Ary A. Hoffmann (2010)
Survival and reproduction of the pest mites Balaustium medicagoense and Bryobia spp. on winter grain crops
Experimental and Applied Acarology 52 (2), 141-153
Abstract: Balaustium medicagoense and Bryobia spp. have recently been identified as emerging pests of winter crops and pastures in Australia. These mites have a high natural tolerance to currently registered pesticides, highlighting the need to develop alternative control strategies such as cultural controls which require an understanding of plant associations. In shade-house experiments, Bryobia spp. survived and reproduced successfully on pasture, lupins and oats, but progeny failed to reach the adult stage on canola and wheat. Balaustium medicagoense progeny failed to produce a generation on any crop but parental adults survived a few months on all crops, particularly wheat. Bryobia spp. damaged canola, pasture and lupins, but caused minimal damage to oats and wheat, whereas Ba. medicagoense caused considerable damage to wheat and lupins, but only moderate damage to canola, oats and pasture. Field survey data, taken from approximately 450 sites across southern Australia, combined with analysis of historical pest reports, suggest broadleaf crops such as canola, lucerne, lupins and weeds appear particularly susceptible to attack by Bryobia species. Balaustium medicagoense was more commonly found on cereals and grasses, although they also attacked broadleaf crops, particularly canola, lucerne and lupins. These findings show that the mites have the potential to be an important pest on several winter grain crops and pasture, but there are important differences that can assist in management strategies such as targeted crop rotations.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Aston L. Arthur, Paul A. Umina, Ary A. Hoffmann

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Bryobia (genus)		Australia (South+SE)
	Balaustium medicagoense	Wheat (Triticum)	Australia (South+SE)