Pasture dry matter reduction over the dry season due to Oncopera spp. (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae) on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland

Abstract

Infestation of late instar larvae of Oncopera brachyphylla Turner and O. mitocera (Turner) (Lepidoptera : Hepialidae) in mixed pastures at four sites on the Atherton Tablelands of Queensland over a ten week period from September-October gave a mean reduction of 8.7 kg dry matter ha-1 larva-1 m-2. Mean larval populations at the four sites for the period were 29.6, 96.9, 85.0 and 76.4 larvae m-2. The pastures consisted of Nandi setaria (Setaria anceps cv. Nandi)-Greenleaf desmodium (Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf) and kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) each at two sites.