Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems - Grains ...

SECTION 6
Monitoring, Record Keeping,
Sampling Techniques
and Economic Thresholds
Introduction ....................................................... 2
Factors to consider for effective monitoring. .............................2
Monitoring kit checklist . ................................................2
Frequency and timing ..................................................2
Unbiased and random sampling procedure .............................3
Plant damage symptoms ...............................................3
Sample size and number . ...............................................3
Defined sampling area .................................................3
Confidence in monitoring crops . ........................................4
Sampling techniques ............................................... 4
Visual observations .....................................................4
Suction sampling .......................................................5
Sweep net . .............................................................5
Cut and bash ...........................................................5
Brushing or beat sheet . .................................................5
Sampling with traps
Pitfall traps, Pheromone traps, Sticky traps, Light traps,
Baiting & shelter/refuge traps ........................................6
Effective monitoring and record keeping ................................7
Sending samples for identification ......................................8
Economic thresholds ............................................... 9
Yield-based thresholds, Quality-based or preventative thresholds,
Defoliation thresholds & Nominal thresholds .........................9
More factors to consider .............................................. 10
Multi-pest situations . ................................................. 10
Control decision processes . ............................................11
Putting it all together . ............................................. 11
Important factors to consider before deciding to control pests ..........11
Outcomes of pest control decisions ....................................12
Figures and Tables
Figure 6.1 Economic pest thresholds guiding control decisions . .............9
Figure 6.2 Percent defoliation of soybean leaflets attacked by Helicoverpa larvae 10
Table 6.1 Row length estimates for different crop row spacings .............4
Table 6.2 Crop monitoring record sheet . .................................13
Table 6.3 Check list of broadacre pests occurring in southern Australia .....15
Table 6.4 Checklist of common pest in southern Australia by crop type .....19
SECTION 6 MONITORING, RECORD KEEPING, SAMPLING TECHNIQUES AND ECONOMIC THRESHOLDS
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Insects of Southern Australian Broadacre Farming Systems Identification Manual and Education Resource © 2012