Native budworm moth activity update. After a few weeks of little to no native budworm (Helicoverpa punctigera) activity across South Australia, recent pheromone trap catches show moth activity picking up again at several monitored sites. Recent trap
Stay ahead of RLEM: no-cost resistance testing by Cesar Australia and TIMERITE timing. Redlegged earth mite (RLEM) is a major pest of Australian crops and pastures across the southern states. Chemical control remains an important management tool,
Nature's hidden ally: fungal pathogens attacking aphids. When our team receives images of aphids for identification, our focus is usually on determining the species and assessing potential crop risk. However, this season we've also noticed something
Pea weevil watch: monitor now, spray smart. The SARDI pea weevil model is predicting that adult pea weevil movement into field pea crops could begin around 25 August, with egg-laying activity expected from approximately 8 to 10 September. Pea weevil
Stay one step ahead of Etiella: now is the time to watch. Etiella (Etiella behrii) can be a difficult pest to stay ahead of in pulse crops. Adults can arrive with little warning. They lay eggs on plants, and after hatching, the small larvae move
Three to watch in cereals: aphids, cutworms and armyworms. Cereal crops are well underway across South Australia, and a few familiar pests are starting to make an appearance. The PestFacts SA team has received reports this season of oat aphid from
Native budworm moth activity: update to 17 July 2026. Up to to 17 July, monitoring through the PestFacts SA native budworm pheromone trap network continues to show low moth activity across South Australia, indicating there is no immediate threat to
Hoverflies lending a hand in canola. While growers are keeping an eye on insect pests, it's worth remembering that beneficial insects are also out in force. During recent monitoring at the GRDC project Canola Allies trial site at Rosedale,
Plague locust outlook: what to expect this spring. Widespread rainfall across South Australia in late summer provided ideal breeding conditions for Australian plague locusts. With Australian plague locust activity increasing across SA, the focus is
Blue-green aphids emerge as pulse crops establish. Blue-green aphids have been reported in medic on the Eyre Peninsula and faba beans in the South East. However, the current cool and wet winter conditions are expected to slow their development and
Native budworm moth activity – update to 30 June 2026. At this time of year, native budworm trap catches are best viewed as an early warning of moth movement rather than an immediate threat to crops. While flights this early in the season are less
Tiny pests, hidden damage: mealybugs in cereal. Although mealybugs are not a common or widespread cereal pest in South Australia, we have received several reports of mealybug activity in cereal crops from the Eyre Peninsula, Mid North and Murray