The control of grass caterpillars

Abstract

Psara licarsisalis (Walk.), under the common name of the grass moth, has been discussed in the Queensland Agricultural and Pastoral Handbook 1951. Although this insect has a State-wide distribution it is responsible for serious damage to pastures and lawns only in the south-eastern coastal areas of the State in the late summer and autumn. Recent Departmental records list severe outbreaks in 1947 and 1949, but during the grass caterpillar outbreak in the autumn of 1947 Prodenia litura (F.) appeared as the predominant species. Although for some years DDT has been used successfully to control P. licarsisalis and several Noctuids this opportunity was taken to establish trials against P. litura functioning as a grass pest.