Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 6 Number 5 1965 Article 10 1-1-1965 Kimberley Research Station progress report, 1964 : insect pests and insecticides K T. Richards Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Animal Experimentation and Research Commons, Entomology Commons, and the Plant Biology Commons Recommended Citation Richards, K T. (1965) "Kimberley Research Station progress report, 1964 : insect pests and insecticides," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 6 : No. 5 , Article 10. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol6/iss5/10 This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. KIMBERLEY RESEARCH STATION PROGRESS REPORT PART 3 INSECT PESTS AND INSECTICIDES By K. T. RICHARDS FOR the past four years, detailed studies have been carried out in regard to the identification, status, bionomics, and control of insects and mite pests attacking the various crops grown in the Ord River Irrigation Area. During this period the main pests of Saff lower the respective crops (in descending order Prodenia litura (F.) Heliothis puncti­ of importance) were: gera Wallengr., Austracris guttulosa (Walk.), Heliothis armigera (Hubn.). Cotton MAJOR PESTS Linseed Prodenia litura (F) Tobacco cluster grub; Earias huegeli Rog. Rough bollworm; Prodenia litura (F.), Heliothis punc­ Heliothis punctigera Wallengr. Climb­ tigera Wallengr. Laphygma exigua ing cutworm; Pectinophora gossypiella (Hubn.), Heliothis armigera (Hubn.). (Saund.) Pink bollworm; Anomis planalis (Swin.) Cotton looper; Austracris gut- Sugar Cane tulosa (Walk.) Spur-throated locust. Gastrimargus musicus (F.), Austracris MINOR PESTS guttulosa (Walk.). Cosmophila flava (F.) Cotton semi- looper, Tetranychus telarius (L.) Red Rapeseed spider, Aphis gossypii Glov. Cotton aphid Prodenia litura (F.), Heliothis spp. Acontia congenita Hamps. Hairy leaf- eating caterpillar, Heliothis armigera (Hubn.) Northern budworm, Earias fabia Sesame (Stoll) Spotted bollworm, Bucculatrix Prodenia litura (F.), Coenotes eremo- gossypii Turn. Cotton leaf perforator, philae Luc, Antigastra ? catalaunalis Dup. Oxycarenus luctuosus Montr. Coon bug. "Leaf-stickers," Heliothis spp., Plusia argentifera Guen. Rice Tryporyza innotata (Walk.) Rice stem borer, Niphadoses palleucus Common. Rice Castor stem borer, Gastrimargus musicus (F.) Prodenia litura (F.),Archaea janata (L.), Yellow-winged locust, Baoris zelleri cin- Semi-looper, Heliothis spp., Dichocrocis nara Wallace. Skipper butterfly. punctiferalis (Guen.) Yellow peach moth. 309 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 6 No 5 1965 Sevin at 1-3 lb. per acre has proved to be a most effective material for control of most cotton pests including pink and rough bollworms, Heliothis spp. Anomis, Cosmophila, and Acontia. It also gives fair control of Prodenia. However, be­ cause this material has until recently been available only as a wettable powder preparation, difficulties have arisen in regard to its use through aerial spraying equipment, where low gallonages are used. A number of other materials includ­ ing Dipterex, Gusathion, Telodrin, Zec- tran, and Dimecron have also shown con­ siderable promise in the control of certain cotton pests. Some resistance to Meta- systox by red spider has been noted at the Station. As Prodenia has appeared to be the most destructive pest at Kimberley Re­ Prodenia attacking a cotton boll. search Station and Kununurra during the past four years, a number of trials involv­ ing the testing of a large range of insecti­ cides and other materials have been carried out at the Station. These have Soya indicated the effectiveness of Dipterex Zygrita diva Thompson "Stem-borer," and Zectran against this pest. Prodenia litura, Austracris guttulosa (Walk.), Microcerotermes serratus Frog- Sprays of polyhedrosis virus prepara­ gatt. Termites, Heliothis spp., Stomop- tions have also been tested and show teryx ? simplexella (Walk.) "Leaf- promise against Prodenia but the kill is rollers," Hedylepta diemenalis (Guen.) comparatively slow and the constant "Leaf-rollers." supply of adequate diseased larvae is a limiting factor. Although insecticides and other Baiting trials at the Station have in­ materials have been tested in the control dicated that an excellent kill of all larval of pests of the majority of the above stages of Prodenia can be obtained by crops, priority has necessarily been given use of bait-insecticide mixtures. Materials to cotton pests and their control. Insecti­ such as bran, linseed, and cotton seed cide trials during the 1959-60, 1960-61, meals and ground pasture materials have and 1961-62 wet seasons have shown that been found effective as the attractant but DDT at a rate of a half to one pound an bran is the most satisfactory. The old acre will effectively control the Lepidop- formula of bran—B.H.C. has shown to be terous pests with the exception of pink as effective as any, and more economical bollworm (where the rate needs to be than most mixtures. Liquid B.H.C. pre­ increased to 2 lb. per acre), Prodenia. and parations, at a rate of 4 fluid oz. of 20 rough bollworm. In the case of Prodenia, per cent. B.H.C. emulsion per 1 lb. of bran considerable tolerance to DDT has been laid in a thin trail along the ridges has indicated, even in early instars. With late- given excellent results. Pelleted prepara­ instar larvae, rates up to 6 lb. per acre have, in a number of cases, failed to give tions have also been found effective. satisfactory control (coverage being com­ On the basis of results of insecticide plete and spraying carried out under dry trials at Kimberley Research Station, conditions). spraying schedules have been recom­ Endrin at 4 oz. per acre has been shown mended for the protection of commercial to be effective for control of rough boll­ cotton, rice and safflower crops at worm, spur-throated locust and the loopers. Kununurra. Journal of Agriculture, Vol 6 No 5 1965 INSECT ECOLOGY By P. E. MADGE INSECT ecological investigations were commenced in the 1963-64 season to provide a broad-based approach to insect control. Because of the immediate threat of the respectively; the higher rate gave a satis­ of the insect Prodenia litura to all broad- factory kill of Prodenia during the major leafed crops, a large proportion of the outbreak in late March. total effort was directed towards prevent­ There was strong evidence to suggest ing insect build up by the application of that the late March infestation was the existing knowledge and towards analysing result of large flights of adults migrating the character of the infestations which from the commercial farms, where cotton did in fact occur. had been planted early and had "cut-out" A sanitation period of three weeks, in­ by mid-March. volving the destruction of all broad-leaf Provisional principles for the control of crops and residues, was imposed at the Prodenia on Station are: end of the 1963 dry season. Subsequent (1) A closed season of three to four isolated foci of infestation on pigweed in weeks before the first cotton crop cropping areas and around buildings were is sown. treated immediately. It is believed that (2) Effective weed control during the these measures prevented the early build­ (closed season and the cotton up of Prodenia, which only became serious growing season, both in the crop in March. and in surrounding areas. During the season the timing of insecti­ (3) Routine weekly insect surveys to cide applications was based on the results estimate pest abundance. of routine weekly insect surveys of all (4) Insecticide applications timed cotton experiments. Initial insecticide according to the results of the dosage rates were 4 lb. DDT plus i lb. surveys. Endrin active ingredient per acre. These (5) Destruction of cotton plants as rates were later increased to 1 + i lb. soon after picking as possible. WEEDS AND WEED CONTROL By P. J. VAN RUN UNTIL 1960, pre-irrigation followed by tillage and where possible subsequent inter-row cultivation, were accepted as standard techniques for weed control at the Station. However, they were not fully effective (Echinochloa crus-galli) together with in preventing weeds from becoming a awnless barnyard grass, and, in the wet serious problem particularly on long season, nut-grass (Cyperus spp.) are the cropped land. In 1960, an intensive study main weeds of rice. Contaminated crop of weeds and methods of their control seed and agricultural machinery as well was initiated. It was established that pig­ as irrigation water were found to be im­ weed (Trianthema portulucastrum and portant in spreading weed infestation Portulaca oleracea), Chloris grass (Chloris (van Rrjn 1962). barbata), and awnless barnyard grass The results of experiments on chemical (Echinochloa colonum) are the main weed control in crops are summarised in weeds of upland crops. Barnyard grass Table 8. 311 Journal of Agriculture, Vol 6 No 5 1965 Table 8.—Successful chemical weed-control methods based on Experiments in 1960-64 period Crop Time of Application Remarks References Cotton Trianthema portulucas- Diuron 3—4 weeks before Nov.- Minimum disturbance of van Rijn (1964c) trum, Portulaca oleracea, Dec. planting soil at sowing essen­ PhyJfanthus mader- tial. Effective through­ aspatanus, Sida spp., out crop season and Sesbania spp. Diuron Pre-emergence Effective throughout most van Rijn (1964c) of growing season Dicryl 3-6 7-10 days after emer­ Period of effective con­ van Rijn (1964c) gence trol shorter than that of Diuron Rice Echinochloa crus-galli, £. STAM F--34 3-6 2-3 weeks after emer­ Excellent control van Rijn (1963a) calonum, Cyperus spp., gence (wet season) CIPC 4-8 Post-emergence at Good control van Rijn (1964b) weed appearance EPTC 1 Pre-sowing Good control ...