Corangamite/Glenelg Hopkins Region
Project contact: Cam Nicholson, phone 0417 311 098, email nicon@pipeline.com.au
Crop and pasture integrated pest management is becoming a reality on-farm but requires monitoring and good technical interpretation. Combining these actions could dramatically change the feed availability on farms while solving major stubble, weed and pest problems in the cropping enterprise.
Significant on-farm monitoring is creating an understanding of the interaction between farm practices and insect populations. This is being coupled with trialing of softer insecticides and the study of the harbour created by areas of native vegetation of farms to develop an integrated approach to pest management.
The trials are expected to result in a significant reduction in the use of insecticides to control pests, leading to a reduction in costs, at least maintain crop and pasture yields and create a system that is less reliant on chemicals
Training courses are being developed for agronomists and farmers to start to build confidence in the Integrated Pest Management approach.
| Pest insect | Beneficial Insects That Eat the Pest |
| Redlegged earth mite and lucerne flea | Predatory mites (Bdellidae and other species) Native earwigs (Labidura Truncate) |
| Slugs (Deroceras Reticulatum, Milax gagates) | Carabid beetles (Rhytisternus, Notonomus) |
| Caterpillars (Diamondback Moth, Heliothis, Armyworm) | Carabid beetles, native earwigs |
| Aphids | Brown lacewigs (Micromus Tasmaniae) Ladybird beetles (Harmonia, Coccinella, Hippodamia) |
| European Earwigs | Carabid beetles |