Native budworm moth activity and trapping update
- Bindi Bindi
- Usual trapping sites across wheatbelt
Jessica Florance (Kalyx) reports that native budworm caterpillar numbers have decreased in her canola trial site at Bindi Bindi over the past few weeks. Jessica was finding six to 15 budworm caterpillars per 10 sweeps two weeks ago, four per 10 sweeps last week, and was averaging less than one per 10 sweeps this week.
Many of the volunteer farmers and DPIRD staff who have been trapping this season have packed away their traps because crops are too advanced to be troubled by future moth egg laying. Their efforts in sending in weekly reports to PestFax and providing advanced warning of the budworm threat are greatly appreciated.
Native budworm moths generally move westward looking for less advanced crops as the eastern crops dry out. All late maturing crops and legume pastures should be checked for budworm, especially in areas where moth numbers have been recorded 3-4 weeks ago.
For the locations of budworm moth numbers caught in pheromone traps in recent weeks refer to the department’s Native budworm moth trap numbers 2017.
For more information on thresholds, pesticide options and withholding periods refer to the department’s;
- 2017 PestFax Issue 22 article Latest native budworm moth activity and management advice
- Management and economic thresholds for native budworm page
- Winter/Spring Insecticide Spray Chart 2017.
For more information contact Alan Lord, Technical Officer, South Perth on +61 (0)8 9368 3758 or +61 (0)409 689 468