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The Balaustium mite ( Balaustium medicagoense Meyer and Ryke) is an important pest of winter crops and pastures in southern Australia. Laboratory studies have shown B. medicagoense has a high natural tolerance to various pesticides and field chemical control failures are common. There is limited information on the biology of B. medicagoense and there are currently no pesticides registered for its control in Australia. Here the field efficacy of several pesticide treatments (lambda-cyhalothrin, bifenthrin, gamma-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos) that have recently shown some promise for the control of B. medicagoense in laboratory bioassays were examined. For comparison, the efficacy of these pesticides was also assessed against the redlegged earth mite ( Halotydeus destructor Tucker) and blue oat mite ( Penthaleus major Dugès). The majority of chemical treatments were effective in controlling H. destructor and P. major, but had limited effect against B. medicagoense. Bifenthrin applied at the rate of 40 g a.i./ha had the highest efficacy against B. medicagoense, while high rates of lambda-cyhalothrin (5 g a.i./ha) and gamma-cyhalothrin (2.4 g a.i./ha) provided a low level of control in some trials. This study has further shown that B. medicagoense has a high natural tolerance to a range of agricultural chemicals. As pesticides are likely to be ineffective in many field situations, management strategies that do not solely rely on chemicals need to be considered for B. medicagoense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we review the current knowledge of green mirids, Creontiades dilutus (Hemiptera: Miridae). Creontiades dilutus are highly polyphagous pests that are endemic to Australia. They are widely distributed across Australia and feed on a broad range of agricultural crops. Recently, C. dilutus has become an important focus of pest control in Australian cotton crops, most likely due to a decrease in insecticide use associated with the widespread uptake of transgenic cotton varieties. Prior to this, C. dilutus had been coincidentally controlled in cotton by applications of insecticides targeted at other pests such as Helicoverpa spp. Further, the pest status of C. dilutus in summer pulse crops has become more apparent due to the increased research dedicated to this area over the past decade. We review various aspects of the biology and ecology of C. dilutus, including their life cycle, feeding behaviour and host plants. We also examine current control methods and laboratory-rearing techniques, which will be important for the development of novel control strategies in cotton and other cropping environments. Possible future research directions are highlighted, such as dispersal capabilities and extent of genetic structure within C. dilutus populations, as these will have important implications for effective and sustainable control in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]