Pasture pests: on guard against the mealybug menace

Graziers and farmers are being warned to keep a close eye on the health of their pastures and grasses, with research showing that pasture dieback is increasing across Queensland.

Pasture Dieback: causes and solutions:

  • Death and lost production across millions of
    hectares of prime grazing in Queensland and NSW
    linked to the mealybug, Heliococcus summervillei
  • Management solutions urgently needed

QUT is working with Meat and Livestock Australia to:

  • Target management using mealybug biology
  • Test and apply controls and natural enemies
  • Identify resistant pasture varieties