A surge to summer temperatures, forecast to top 25°C this week, has triggered the conditions for Bruchid beetle warnings.
Growers are advised to be highly alert for beetle activity. Bruchid larvae feeding on developing beans in pods can result in yield loss and low-value damaged beans.
Hot, dry weather initiates bruchid beetle movement into crops.
Becky Howard of Processors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO) reported growers had made significant advances in recent years to reduce the incidence of Bruchid damage.
“Last year, however, there was an increase in recorded levels of bean damage, up to levels last seen in 2012,” she highlighted.
“That was possibly down to growers’ perceived low risk in the dull conditions, when temperatures were actually plenty warm enough for the beetles.”
'Catastrophic failure'
Miss Howard said that crops in PGRO trials this season were already at the very early pod set stage, although pods were still wrapped in flowers.
Syngenta BruchidCast issues localised advance warning of forecast conditions conducive to Bruchid breeding activity, giving growers the chance to intervene before damaging egg laying occurs.
Syngenta Insecticides Field Technical Specialist, Max Newbert said: “Whilst the average levels of infection have typically been reducing, most seasons we see instances of catastrophic failure where growers have not treated – with lower yields of beans acceptable for premium export.”
Adult Bruchid beetles are 3.5 - 4.5 mm long, squat shaped, black or dark-bown with small grey flecks.
High levels of damage or infestation mean that beans are not acceptable for human consumption in the export trade.
