**Note: See below for further info and resources on Rutherglen bug management from CSIRO.

While Rutherglen Bug has long been considered a pest of sunflowers, it's now moving into other summer crops and very little is known about its ecology. So, a GRDC investment has partnered CSIRO with New South Wales DPI and the University of Queensland to help industry better understand and manage this damaging pest.

Early in the research project, the team uncovered significant identity confusion between Rutherglen bug and its relatively harmless lookalike, the Grey Cluster bug. So, for control decisions, correct identification is critical. This video shows how to tell the difference.

The team has identified two key factors that influence Rutherglen bug numbers in summer crops. First, the surrounding habitat, particularly canola stubble. Secondly, climate cycles, particularly the transition from wet periods to a dry summer growing season.

Special thanks to Mukti Chalise, NSW DPI, Tamworth Agricultural Institute.

Rutherglen bug resources for grain growers:
https://research.csiro.au/agroecology...

Project# CSP2104-007RTX

More info on this and other research: https://grdc.com.au

Subscribe: https://grdc.com.au/grdc-subscriptions

For LIVE Events go to https://grdc.com.au/events/list

Get the latest from GroundCover: https://groundcover.grdc.com.au/

PODCAST: https://grdc.com.au/news-and-media/po...
FACEBOOK:   / thegrdc  
TWITTER:   / thegrdc  
INSTAGRAM:   / thegrdc