Diagnosing native budworm in canola
The native budworm caterpillar can cause serious yield loss to canola as pods mature.
What to look for
- Caterpillars up to 40mm long that are shades of orange, brown and green and usually have a dark stripe along its body.
Caterpillars feed on leaves and stem until the crop nears maturity, then they are attracted to the pods. They drill through the pod wall and eat the seeds.
Insect Larvae
- Native budworm will also continue to damage seed pods if the crop has been swathed when many pods are still green with soft seed or if drying of the swath is prolonged due to wet weather.
Insect Adult
What else could it be
Condition | Similarities | Differences |
---|---|---|
Diagnosing diamondback moth | Small caterpillars look very similar | Diamondback moth caterpillar are smaller,green, cigar shaped and graze the pod surface without entering the pod. |
Diagnosing cabbage white butterfly | Green caterpillar eating holes in leaves | Velvety green caterpillar that is uncommon and rarely eats floral parts. |
Where did it come from?
- The native budworm can develop large populations over extensive areas on native plants. These populations often migrate into agricultural regions in late winter and spring.
- Migratory flights are unpredictable, as moths are carried hundreds of kilometres from breeding areas by high altitude currents.
Management strategies
- The decision to spray for native budworm in canola and lupins (but not other crops) can be left until pods are beginning to mature. If caterpillar numbers are below threshold limits, the decision to spray should be delayed and periodic sampling continued.
- Threshold for control in canola and lupins (but not other crops) is six or more grubs per 10 sweeps at pod maturation. This threshold varies with grain price and control costs see 'See Also' section for more information.
- One well timed spray to control caterpillar populations is all that is required in most situations.
How can it be monitored?
- It is essential to determine native budworm numbers by sampling crops using a sweep net because in dense canola crops the grubs are very difficult to detect.
- Begin monitoring at flowering.
See also
Where to go for expert help
Page last updated: Monday, 1 May 2017 - 11:47am