Control trials against the brown wheat mite

Abstract

Petrobia latens (Müller) has been known as a minor pest of winter cereals for many years in southern Queensland. In June-September 1963, dry conditions favoured its development over a large area. As a satisfactory chemical providing good kills of brown wheat mite was not known when the pest upsurge occurred, two trials were carried out in seedling wheat crops during August/September, 1963. The only chemicals to show promise in Trial 1 were dimethoate, azinphos-ethyl and Mesurol. An effect was shown on population level for two weeks after treatment and observations indicated that population differences were still present up to five weeks from the time of the applications. Trial 2 results demonstrated that dimethoate at rates as low as 1/4 oz active constituent per ac gave good kills.