One of the important characteristics elevating Heliothis spp. to major pest status is the ability to enter facultative diapause. Diapause maintains populations during periods when hosts are unavailable or conditions are not conducive to reproduction and population survival. Development resumes in spring with the onset of warmer temperatures and moth emergence becomes concentrated. Survival of overwintering populations and the contribution of this carry over of moths to the development of populations the following season are not well established in Australia. Overwinter survival studies for H. punctigera and H. armigera were conducted in south-east Queensland to investigate differences between the two species.

Although resistance to insecticides was a well-documented phenomenon, pest control operators have merely switched from less effective insecticides to newer more potent compounds and thereby kept ahead of the resistance problem. Moreover, the constant development of resistance continually created new markets for alternative insecticides, and planners merely took this into consideration in forecasting trends. This practice of planned obsolescence was only possible with a steady supply of new insecticides, a supply that no longer exists

No final report

This paper outlines the requirements to effectively operate a Controlled Traffic farming system, with emphasis on the need for some form of automatic steering assistance for farm machinery. The material presented is based on work being widertaken. at the U.S.Q. for the Cotton Research and Development Corporation. Project DDI 1 Lis developing guidelines for establishing controlled traffic farming systems. Project goals include the provision of a bolt-on, economical, reliable automatic guidance system for existing farm machinery.

HOTEL CONRAD AND JUPITERS CASINO, BROADBEACH, GOLD COAST, QUEENSLAND ORGANISED BY THE AUSTRALIAN COTTON GROWERS RESEARCH ASSOCIATION INC. (ACGRA

Collaborative research was to undertaken to identify and investigate problems associated with the perceived "poor adoption rate of Siratac, and develop an action plan and advisory programme to significantly improve adoption"l.This document is the final report for the Cotton Research Council and it summarises our findings, including: i). issues regarding Siratac's market and its position within that market, ii). research into attitudes and expectations of users, non-users and past users, iii). a summary of an industry consultative group meeting regarding a future direction for Siratac and Siratac Ltd., and developments since that meeting, and iv). conclusions and recommendations to achieve the defined future direction, and potentially improve acceptance. This document is the final report for the Cotton Research Council and it summarises our findings, including: i). Issues regarding Siratac's market and its position within that market, ii). Research into attitudes and expectations of users, non-users an

Travel report

The End of Season Resistance Monitoring Report, by Sharon Downes, and the Conventional Insecticide Testing Report, by Lisa Bird provide a summary of the outcomes of both programs during this season.

The key outcome from both programs is that there has been no substantial change in frequency in Helicoverpa spp. in this year, as compared to recent years. It is imperative however to continue to practice good resistance management via adherence to the Resistance Managment Plan (RMP) for Bt cotton, and the Insect Resistance Management Strategy (IRMS).

A rapid chemical method for determining the age of adults of laboratory reared Pectinophora scutigera has been developed.