Lucerne flea

Constraint – Lucerne flea

Appearance

• Lucerne fleas are globular wingless insects, 2-3 mm long with green, brown and yellow markings

• They make jumping movements when disturbed

• Young nymphs resemble the adults except in size

Symptoms

• The cells of the upper surface of leaves and cotyledons are eaten, resulting in small ‘windows’ in the leaves

• Severe infestations cause skeletonised leaves, with just the more fibrous veins remaining

Damage

• Canola is most susceptible during crop establishment

• Damage is often minor, but severe damage can stunt or kill seedlings

• Cumulative damage may be severe where crop growth is slowed by cold, wet or dry conditions

Control

Only when infestations are severe should lucerne flea be sprayed. In some instances, spot spraying with registered chemicals may be adequate. Several natural enemies such as mites, beetles and spiders prey upon lucerne fleas. Blanket spraying is harmful to these natural control agents. Seed dressing can also be a useful technique to prevent damage by lucerne flea.

Links and Resources

AOF - Insect pests of canola. Lucerne flea Page 3 of 6. Introduction, feeding habits, lifecycle, damage, and management.

CSIRO - Protecting germinating grain Page 50. Pest status, lifecycle, damage, and control. Published 2009.

DAFWA - Identification of pests of canola. Lucerne flea Page 13. Description, lifecycle, damage, and control. Published 2005.

DEPI VIC - Lucerne flea Introduction, identification, distribution, lifecycle, behaviour and damage, monitoring, and control. Published 1995, updated 2008, updated 2014.

GRDC - Best Practice Management Guide. Lucerne flea Page 51 of 92. Appearance, damage, conditions that encourage predation, lifecycle, monitoring, and control. Published 2009.

NIPI - Lucerne flea Information on pre planting and seedling management, including finding insects and damage, monitoring and recording, natural enemies, thresholds, control, multi pest interactions, and communication and discussion around management. Published 2014.

PIRSA DAFWA & CESAR - I Spy Manual. Lucerne flea Section 4, pages 63-64. Description/distinguishing characteristics, confused with/similar to, distribution, pest status and risk period, host range, damage, monitoring, sampling, and management. Published 2012.