FEED PLANNING Crops and pasture

Australia’s major pests are the redlegged earth mite (RLEM), blue oat mite (BOM), balaustium mite and KEY MESSAGES bryobia mite. In addition, brown mite and two- spotted mite are also considered important pests Monitoring is essential for early however these are sporadic. Yields of many host plants detection of crop mites can be dramatically reduced by mite damage Early control of summer and autumn All of these mites look similar and can co-exist in the weeds within and around paddocks can same area. Monitoring is critical to accurately identify the help to control mite populations pests and control their population. The most commonly used techniques to monitor mites are visual assessments, Some mites are highly tolerant of pesticides, suction sampling, pitfall traps and germinating seed so correct identification is necessary baits. It is important to inspect crops, weedy areas and to apply the right control method pastures adjoining fence lines from autumn to spring for the mites and feeding damage.

Source: Redlegged earth mite, Blue oat mite, respectively. Images: Cesar

Source: Balaustium mite, Bryobia mite, respectively. Images: Cesar Table 2 Table © Dairy Australia Limited 2020. All rights reserved. rights All 2020. Limited Australia publication. © Dairy of date the after current be not may and mind in circumstances specific your with publication, prepared this in been not has provided information information that the as on relying or using before advice You professional should obtain and document. this on inquiries own reliance your or of make use always your for liability no accepts and omissions or errors inadvertent from free is content the initiatives or industry dairy the of performance the as of (such Dairy Australia) is matters based on information future available to Dairy regarding Australia at the time statements of any preparation. Dairy Australia does including not guarantee that publication this of content The 1 Table Mite species Brown wheat mite wheat Brown mite Two-spotted mite Bryobia Balaustium mite BOM RLEM mite wheat Brown mite Two spotted Bryobia mite Bryobia RLEM Balaustium mite pasture mites pasture and Crop BOM Please visit feed.dairyaustralia.com.au visit Please FOR FURTHER INFORMATION FURTHER FOR

Active periods Typically active period of mites in crops and pastures in Australia in pastures and crops in mites of period active Typically Guide to identify mites that could affect your crop and/or pasture based on their features, behaviours and hosts and behaviours features, their on based and/or crop pasture your affect could that mites to identify Guide three pairs of legs of pairs three other the than distinctly longer are legs front Their the body of side either on Darker green spots its body length body its times to 1.5 up legs front grey. Long dark is that body dorsal flattened Oval shaped, velvet black body black velvet Globular shaped; stout hairs with covered Body on Pad like structure features Distinctive marking on back Orange/red Jan forelegs Feb Mar cultivated grasses other non- infest also can it however cotton , wheat, of Common broadleaf weeds plants and many ornamental perennials and herbs, herbaceous trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, many on pest become a serious hosts and has of range Wide and canola, lupins vetch,lucerne, , grasses, susceptible susceptible cereals are most lupins and seedlings, canola, pastures; legume and crops All weeds some broadleaf canola, lupin, and grasses, lucerne, Pasture legumes, Host susceptible cereals are most canola, lupin and legume seedlings, important plants: agriculturally of range Wide wheat Apr Mar the leaves the of tips the on Feed lower leaf surface leaf lower the on visible is Fine webbing of the underside groups on clustered in Often found grasses over medics and Prefers clovers other species groups unlike surfaces in large Feeds on leaf plants of tips leaf and edges leaf Typically attacks habits Behaviour and groups small very in or surfaces singularly Feeds on leaf leaves May Jun Jul withered scorched a present fields infested Heavily Stippling of the leaves leaf the upper surface of appearance on the Bronzing speckled BOM and to RLEM similar is damage grasses On leaves on spots grey whitish of trails Distinctive of discolouration white or Silvering leaves the of spotting or bleaching Irregular white Symptoms of discolouration white or Silvering leaves leaves Aug Sep affected crops cost be not may Control their population reduces rain winter Heavy conditions dry in Tend aproblem to be is pest management integrated pesticides, High tolerance to populations control helpto weeds summer and of control Early control are usually required for pesticides, high rates High tolerance to Use Timerite to help weeds autumn and summer of control Early for No pesticides registered Treatment appearance of mites first the of weeks applied within three Pesticides should be control are usually required for rates high pesticides, of High tolerance to range population in autumn over carry reduce will grazing in Heavy Spring. in date Oct required control populations Balaustium mites Dairy Australia Limited Limited Australia Dairy dairyaustralia.com.au F T E ‑

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