Monitoring aphids as virus vectors in 2019 in northern NSW

Abstract

Key findings • Aphid movements peaked during August and September 2019. • Of the 19 aphid species found on chickpea, faba bean and lucerne at seven sites in 2019, the most recorded were cowpea aphid (Aphis craccivora), spotted alfalfa aphid (Therioaphis trifolii), blue-green aphid (Acyrthosiphon kondoi), pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum), green peach aphid (Myzus persicae), oat aphid (Rhopalosiphum padi), and Brachycaudus rumexicolens. • First seen in faba bean crops in Australia in 2017 Australia, the faba bean aphid (Megoura crassicauda) was not recorded in 2018 or 2019. • Aphid numbers at all sites were significantly lower than previous years, probably due to the extremely dry conditions during the 2019 spring and the increased populations of beneficials.