A highly destructive pest that affects vegetable and canola crops, diamondback moth continues to be a focus for Lockyer Valley Growers Inc. In this article, VegNET – Southern Queensland Regional Development Officer Zara Hall provides an update on the Lockyer Valley region’s response to the challenges posed by diamondback moth.

Lockyer Valley Growers Inc. has recently led a number of initiatives to communicate best management practices for diamondback moth management in brassicas as part of its ongoing program, Insecticide Resistance Management for Diamondback Moth in the Lockyer Valley.

A grower seminar held earlier this year included a presentation by Dr Mike Furlong from the University of Queensland about climate change impacts on Diadegma distribution.

In efforts to maximise the productivity of beneficial species in brassica crops, growers have planted flowering nectar sources for Diadegma that is understood to increase the parasitoids’ longevity from a couple of days (in the absence of a nectar source) to several weeks (with a nectar source present).

This temperate parasitoid is likely to contract its’ range as a result of warmer conditions expected under climate change predictions. This does not bode well for brassica production in northern regions of Australia, where Diadegma forms an important component of management of diamondback moth.

Grower resources

Growers now have access to a handy reminder about chemical resistance management through the recently published Pest Management in Brassicas in the Lockyer Valley poster. This poster includes a handy chart showing the impacts of pesticides on beneficial arthropods of importance in Australian vegetables. Products including Belt®, Coragen® and Movento® have low toxicity to important parasitoids like Diadegma, whereas Fipronil is highly toxic.

Brassica producers who may have missed the webinar entitled Take Back Control, which was hosted by AUSVEG and Bayer earlier in the year, can now access the webinar online. This webinar includes presentations from John Duff from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland, and Zara Hall from Lockyer Valley Growers Inc. The webinar shares insights and key learnings from diamondback moth management in the Lockyer Valley.

Useful resources for diamondback moth management

Flyer: Impact of pesticides on arthropods of importance in Australian vegetables

Poster: Pest Management in Brassicas in the Lockyer Valley

Webinar: Take Back Control

Find out more

Please contact VegNET – Southern Queensland Regional Development Officer Zara Hall on 0456 956 340 or at ido@lockyervalleygrowers.com.au.

VegNET – Southern Queensland is a strategic levy investment under the Hort Innovation Vegetable Fund.

This project has been funded by Hort Innovation using the vegetable research and development levy and contributions from the Australian Government.

Project Number: VG19010

Cover image: Flowering plants – including Alyssum and Buckwheat – at Crust Farms form an important nectar source for Diadegma.