Survival and reproduction of the pest mites Balaustium medicagoense and Bryobia spp. on winter grain crops

Abstract

Balaustium medicagoense and Bryobia spp. have recently been identified as emerging pests of winter crops and pastures in Australia. These mites have a high natural tolerance to currently registered pesticides, highlighting the need to develop alternative control strategies such as cultural controls which require an understanding of plant associations. In shade-house experiments, Bryobia spp. survived and reproduced successfully on pasture, lupins and oats, but progeny failed to reach the adult stage on canola and wheat. Balaustium medicagoense progeny failed to produce a generation on any crop but parental adults survived a few months on all crops, particularly wheat. Bryobia spp. damaged canola, pasture and lupins, but caused minimal damage to oats and wheat, whereas Ba. medicagoense caused considerable damage to wheat and lupins, but only moderate damage to canola, oats and pasture. Field survey data, taken from approximately 450 sites across southern Australia, combined with analysis of historical pest reports, suggest broadleaf crops such as canola, lucerne, lupins and weeds appear particularly susceptible to attack by Bryobia species. Balaustium medicagoense was more commonly found on cereals and grasses, although they also attacked broadleaf crops, particularly canola, lucerne and lupins. These findings show that the mites have the potential to be an important pest on several winter grain crops and pasture, but there are important differences that can assist in management strategies such as targeted crop rotations.

AustralianBryobiamites (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) form a complex of cryptic taxa with unique climatic niches and insecticide responses

“…Bryobia mites are a significant pest of pastures and winter grain crops in Australia and elsewhere, [23][24][25]27,29 yet studies on this mite complex are limited. Arthur et al 31 were the first to apply genetic markers to explore the biology of Australian Bryobia mites and suggested the presence of cryptic species.…”

“…Bryobia mites are a significant pest of pastures and winter grain crops in Australia and elsewhere, 23–25,27,29 yet studies on this mite complex are limited. Arthur et al 31 .…”

“…Mites were collected along roadsides or within pasture fields and winter grain crops. Sites were targeted based on known plant hosts of Bryobia mites, 1,23,31 including cereals, lucerne (Medicago sativa), capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), clover (Trifolium spp. ), barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), wild radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), wild oats (Avena spp.…”

Identifying critical research gaps that limit control options for invertebrate pests in Australian grain production systems

“…For example, the Bryobia genus of pest mites likely comprises at least four species, which have been morphologically identified (Halliday ; Arthur et al . ) but are still referred to collectively as Bryobia mites in publications. To develop this list, we used databases that have been generated as part of pest alert services offered by cesar (Victoria and New South Wales, NSW, regions), the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) (South Australia, SA, region) and the Department of Primary Industry, Innovation and Regional Development, Western Australia (DPIRD) (Western Australia, WA, region) (see URLs in the Acknowledgements section).…”

The distribution, abundance and life cycle of the pest mites Balaustium medicagoense (Prostigmata: Erythraeidae) and Bryobia spp. (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) in Australia

“…medicagoense and Bryobia spp. are commonly found (Arthur et al 2010). Plants that were commonly surveyed included lucerne (Medicago sativa), clover (Trifolium spp.…”