Research results deliver the new Fruitspotting bugs guide
24 Nov 2016
Horticulture industries can get the latest information on Fruitspotting bugs management in the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) guide now available to help growers to protect crops from the damaging pest.
NSW DPI Project Leader Dr Ruth Huwer said fruitspotting bugs are a major pest for a number of horticultural industries, and can cause significant losses to growers.
“The economic losses from fruitspotting bugs can amount to tens of millions of dollars each year in the Australian fruit and nut industries, with some growers recording crop losses of well over 50 per cent due to damage by fruitspotting bugs.
“The Fruitspotting bugs management guide is the result of five years research conducted at the NSW DPI Centre for Tropical Horticulture at Alstonville with on-farm collaborators,” Dr Huwer said.
“The guide brings the research together with practical applications for growers and detailed information on identifying fruitspotting bugs and their lifecycle, fruit damage, monitoring and control measures.”
A best-practice integrated pest management system to achieve long term control of fruitspotting bugs includes cultural controls, monitoring, biological controls, chemical controls and participation in coordinated area wide management.
An integrated approach will help reduce the risks of pest and disease outbreaks, detect pest and disease problems early and treat problems effectively with minimum pesticide use.
The guide is authored by horticultural industry experts from across the most affected commercial crops avocado, macadamia, custard apple, lychee, passionfruit and papaya and will assist growers with the best management options to tackle fruitspotting bugs.
The guide was developed by NSW DPI, with co-investors Horticulture Innovation Australia, and levies from the macadamia, avocado, lychee, papaya, custard apple and passionfruit industries and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The Fruitspotting bugs guide is available on the DPI website
Media contact: Anne Brook (02) 6763 1163 or 0477 358 305
