Developing a landscape risk assessment for the redheaded cockchafer ('Adoryphorus couloni') in dairy pastures using precision agriculture sensors

Abstract

The redheaded cockchafer ('Adoryphorus couloni') (Burmeister) (RHC) is an important pest of semi-improved and improved pastures of south-eastern Australia. The third instar larvae of the RHC feed on the organic and root matter found in the soil causing reduced pasture growth and in severe cases death of plants. The control of the RHC is complicated by its lifecycle which involves the insect spending the majority of its life underground with only a brief time as an adult beetle flying. The RHC is particularly hard to control as there are no insecticides registered for use against the pest or any effective cultural control methods. ... This thesis aims to identify possible relationships between third instar RHC larvae with environmental variables which can be measured using precision agriculture sensors.