Green Peach Aphid

Mysus persicae

The green peach aphid (GPA) is a pest of many crops, including fodder beet and forage brassicas. GPA feed by puncturing the plant with their stylet (sharp mouthparts) and extracting sugar solution. As well as causing physical damage and excreting honey dew which encourages fungal infections, aphid feeding is the primary cause of aphid transmission. Turnip yellows virus (TYV) is the main virus to infect fodder beet. TYV also infects fodder brassicas, along with cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) and turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). Virus infection causes leaf distortion and even plant death, and can lead to severe yield loss in both crops.

Related Pests

Argentine Stem Weevil

Listronotus bonariensis

Argentine Stem Weevil (Listronotus bonariensis), often referred to as ASW, is a small weevil from South America that is now found throughout New Zealand. Adult stem weevils are hard to detect by eye being only 3.5mm long. Larvae feed in the developing shoots of many important crops including pasture, maize, sweetcorn, cereals and brassicas and it is the larvae that are responsible for the tremendous economic losses attributable to ASW in New Zealand each year. Depending upon the weather experience ASW can complete multiple life cycles each year with egg laying taking place between July and March.

Wheat Bug - Nysius

Nysius huttoni

Wheat bug (Nysius huttoni) often referred to as Nysius is a native New Zealand plant bug that feeds on a very wide range of plants including important crops such as wheat, clovers, fodder beet and brassicas. Adult bugs are quite small (2.5 - 4.0 mm), brownish grey in colour and hairy. Insects mate during spring and summer and each female is capable of laying up to 170 eggs. Eggs are laid in the soil and it takes around 60 - 75 days from egg laying to adult bug. Up to four generations per year are possible. Uncontrolled wheat bugs can cause considerable economic damage.

Springtail

Bourletiella hortensis

The brassica or common springtail is one of several springtails that feed on brassicas causing economic damage by reducing plant establishment. Brassica springtails are tiny at around 1.00 mm and are difficult to find. They live on the soil surface, laying eggs in the soil and as each lifecycle is rapid several generations can occur each year.

Black Beetle

Heteronychus arator

Black beetle (Heteronychus arator) is a large black shiny beetle (15mm), originally from South Africa, and now found throughout the warmer parts of the North Island of New Zealand. The beetle favours light sandy or peaty soils rather than heavy clay soils as these are easier for the adult beetles and larvae to move through. Both the adult beetles and larvae cause plant damage with the adults feeding on newly emerged plants at ground level and by larvae feeding on crop roots between December - March. Beetle numbers can be very high after mild winters and also following seasons with low rainfall.