While Russian wheat aphid (RWA) hasn’t yet been detected in WA, it has been found in South Australia and Victoria recently.

The aphid is a major pest of wheat, barley and some grasses and can cause significant yield losses in wheat and barley crops.

Landholders are encouraged to help determine the aphid’s presence in WA by using DAFWA’s MyPestGuide Reporter app to report the presence of RWA, or its symptoms, in any grasses inspected in day-to-day activities. Reporting the absence of Russian wheat aphid is just as important as reporting its pests and symptoms.

As well as usual aphid feeding damage, Russian wheat aphids inject toxins into plants which retards growth and kill plants in the case of heavy infestations. Affected plants may have whitish, yellow and red leaf markings with rolling leaves. There may be no symptoms when low aphid numbers are present. 

Image: Diraphis Noxia infesting wheat plants in the USA. Copyright: Texas AgriLife Extension Service (©2016)