Aphis Flights Decline

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 8

Aphis Flights Decline

Figures from the lab est weekly clearing of aphis traps show a further falling off of aphis flights, reports the aphis and virus committee.

Details of numbers of aphides recorded per trap, were:—

Week ending May 20: Woodbourne, nil; Seddon, damaged: Rotherham, 30; Waikari, 3; Balcairn, 20: Fernside, 1; Southbridge, 1; Annat, nil: Lincoln 1; Barrhill, 4; Eiffelton, 1; Pleasant Point, 1; Morven, 5; Milford, 6; Oamaru 4. Week ending May 27: Woodbourne, nil; Seddon, nit; Rotherham, no record; Waikari, nil: Balcairn, 2; Fernside, nil: South bridge, 1; Annat, ml; Lincoln, nil; Barrhitl, nil; Eiffelton, 2: Pleasant Point, nil; Morven, 5; Milford, 2; Oamaru, nil.

“Wheat and cereal greenfeed crops inspected during the past week were found to be uniformly infested, with aphides well established in early-sown wheat crops,” says the committee. “Past experience indicates that further small flights of aphides will occur and these will be favoured by the present spell of fine weather and the large numbers present in greenfeed crops and autumnsaved pasture. “There should be little risk of infestation in wheat sown from now on since aphis flights should be finished before the crop comes through the ground. “Treatment of infested crops with an effective aphicide to prevent build-up of barley yellow dwarf virus should prove a worthwhile insurance against loss from this cause. Such treatments should be. carried out before midSeptember. Indications are, however, that earlier treatment is more reliable if the crop was up during April or early May.”