PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds

PLANT PROTECTION 1 – Pests, Diseases and Weeds
PLANT
DAMAGE
DIRECT CHEWING DAMAGE.
Pest species will eat almost anything. Native species are often found in
flowers and on foliage of a wide range of native or exotic plants but do not
seem to do any harm, they probably also feed on detritus associated with
surface leaf litter and some can feed on and digest the rotting logs they live in.
Some native species feed on pollen, others on honeydew.
NEW ROOTS Cockroaches gnaw on soft tissue in greenhouses, crops.
AND SHOOTS
INDIRECT DAMAGE.
Spoil food with their excreta and their characteristic odour.
Spread disease by physically transporting disease organisms.
Salmonella organisms are passed on to food in this way.
General annoyance, allergy, bites.
LIST OF SOME
SPECIES
Introduced pest
species can be
difficult to
tell apart
(Gerozisis and
Hadlington 2001)
Many more pest
cockroaches
overseas
Many more
native species,
some are
endangered
COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME HABITS
INTRODUCED PEST SPECIES (various families)
German cockroach, Blattella germanica Domestic and commercial
Russian cockroach
kitchens and other food handling
Probably originated in Asia
areas. Will eat almost any organic
material found in these areas, eg
crumbs, built-up grease
American cockroach Periplaneta americana Largest cockroach that infests
buildings. Pest of buildings, will
eat almost any food (like the
German cockroach). Adults can
survive for 3-4 months without food
Australian cockroach
Probably originated in Asia,
warm subtropical to tropical
areas
P. australasiae Prefers food of plant origin. Often
found under bark or leaf litter in
gardens, wood piles, also other
locations that offer moist decaying
vegetable matter, eg greenhouses,
sub-floor voids, wall cavities,
garages and sheds. May fly in
warm weather
Oriental cockroach Blatta orientalis Commonly encountered outdoors
under leaf litter and bark and in
damp sub-floors around drainage
systems. Feeds on a variety of
decaying organic matter in
garbage disposal areas, starches,
wall paper sizing and books may
be attacked
Brownbanded
cockroach
Smokybrown
cockroach
AUSTRALIAN SPECIES (various families)
Macropanesthia
rhinoceros
Giant burrowing
cockroach
Rhinoceros cockroach
Supella longipalpa Relatively small, tends to be an
indoor pest often infests the
dwelling parts of the buildings as
well as offices, kitchens.
Scattered throughout buildings
P. fuliginosa Prefers food of plant origin and is
often a pest in greenhouses, bush
houses, nurseries, gardens, indoor
plants, ferns, epiphytic orchids
Lives in tunnels in soil in north
Qld. Females feed their young on
dead leaves. It can reach up to 70
mm in length, weigh up to 30 g,
may hiss when threatened. May
be kept as pets; they live for years.
www.insectfarm.com.au/
Wingless cockroach Calolampra spp. Nips off seedlings at ground
level, eg cotton, sunflower,
sorghum, maize, leucaena,
summer cereals
Nullarbor caves
cockroach
Trogloblattella
nullarborensis
Lives in caves, is blind and
restricted to cave life
Insects and allied pests - Blattodea (cockroaches) 191