Insect pests and their control - The lucerne flea (Sminthurus viridus L.)

The lucerne flea or clover springtail is best know in this State as a pest of clover pastures, but various plants, including many types of vegetables, are also liable to attack. The insect is of European origin, being widely distributed over that continent. It occurs also on the north coast of Africa, in the Argentine, and in all the Australian States with the exception of Queensland

Insect pests and their control - Cockroaches and their control

Several species of cockroaches are now general household pests. In this country some of the native varieties have become semi-domesticated and, in addition, two or three introduced forms are quite common

Insect pests and their control - The Reg-legged earth mite and the lucerne flea

For many years the red-legged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor (Tucker)) and the lucerne flea (Smynthurus viridis L.) have been serious pests of pastures and leguminous crops in Western Australia. Under certain seasonal conditions, damage has also been done to cereals such as oats and barley and every year some damage is done to vegetable and flower gardens. Until recently, the control of both the earth mite and the lucerne flea was uneconomic on large areas due to the cost of material and the heavy application rates which were necessary. Recent investigations with new insecticides, however, have completely changed the picture and have provided farmers with cheap and effective methods for controlling both pests

Insect pest and their control

Methods of insect control are sometimes classified under the four following headings—Quarantine, Cultural Methods, Biological Control and Chemical Treatments. Each method has its own particular part to play in preventing the spread and multiplication of insect pests and it is essential for maximum results that everyone—whether he be a commercial grower or a backyard gardener—has a general understanding of the principles involved

Insect pests and their control - Clothes moths, Carpet beetles and their control

Clothes moths and carpet beetles are among the most destructive of household pests, but because of their retiring habits their presence is often overlooked until an infestation has become well established, and extensive damage has been done. Both types of insect, however, may be kept in check by periodic attention and the same control measures are effective against both beetles and moths

How to submit insect specimens for identification

From time to time most farmers and orchardists come across insects or other small creatures which they have not seen before and about which they would like some information. I get numerous queries about such creatures and am always glad to help, but sometimes the task is made unnecessarily difficult. The most detailed description of a caterpillar or a beetle given by letter is often quite useless as many of the most important features from the scientific point of view may be omitted

Insect pests and their control - Codling moth in Western Australia

The discovery of codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) at Bridgetown in March, 1956, makes the seventeenth occasion on which this insect has been reported in Western Australia in a little over fifty years. The pest has never become firmly established in this State, but since 1903 outbreaks have been recorded at the following centres (Wickens 1928; Jenkins 1947

Insect pests and their control - The San Jose scale - Quadraspidiotus perniciosus (Comst.)

The San Jose scale (pronounced San Hozay), sometimes known as the pernicious scale, has been described by American authors as potentially capable of doing more damage than any other insect occurring in orchards of the Pacific North-West. Fortunately the pest is not the scourge in this State that it is in many parts of Europe and America, but on account of the strict quarantine barriers raised by many countries against fruit even lightly infested with San Jose scale, the matter of its control is of paramount importance

Insect pests and their control - The webworm (Talis pedionoma Mayr.)

The popular name webworm has been applied to a small caterpillar whose depredations in ploughed-in wheat crops have concerned farmers in this State for many years. The first record of the insect as a pest was made by Newman (1927) under the scientific name of Sclerobia tritialis Wlk. and it has been referred to as such in some subsequent Departmental publications. Recent investigations, however, suggest that either more than one species of insect is covered by the term webworm or that the true webworm is a Crambid moth known as Talis pedionoma Mayr

Insect pests and their control - Pasture Cockchafers

Pasture damage due to cockchafer beetles has been recorded in parts of the South-West and Great Southern for the past 50 years, but it is only in the last few seasons that the pest has assumed serious proportions. The first really disturbing reports of pasture cockchafer activity came from the Kojonup district in the winter of 1955, and inspections showed that the insect was common from Boyup Brook to Katanning and down as far as Mt. Barker