PORT Germein mixed farmer Chris Pole will tentatively wait and see just how much Russian wheat aphid will affect his yields this season.
Mr Pole said he first noticed Russian wheat aphid symptoms in mid-July but was advised not to act unless there was more than 10 per cent damage.
“It wasn't worth doing anything at the time,” he said.
He was also concerned spraying could wipe out beneficial insects that predated on the RWA.
But in the past fortnight Mr Pole has noticed some serious damage in both his wheat and barley crops, including head emergence issues from leaf curling.
He was also finding up to 30 aphids nesting in the curled leaves.
Mr Pole felt the increasing issue warranted action and sprayed chlorpyrifos on Monday last week.
And while he is happy there has since been minimal activity evident in the paddocks, he will not be complacent and will continue border spraying to ensure the pest is kept under wraps.
