South Africa is the largest wheat producer in Sub-Saharan Africa after Ethiopia. Due to an increase in wheat demand to feed the growing populace, production needs to intensify. However, intensified agriculture through monoculture farming is the main threat to diverse ecosystems, creating ideal habitats for economically important pests to establish, reproduce and cause damage.
Approximately 75% of South Africa's wheat is produced under dryland conditions and the remaining 25% under irrigation. Winter wheat produced on dryland in the Western Cape accounts for about 50% of the country's total production. In the winter rainfall area, wheat is planted between mid-April and mid-June and in the summer rainfall area (eastern Free State) between mid-May and the end of July.
Russian wheat aphid (Diuraphis noxia) is the most serious wheat pest in South Africa and most problematic in drier, low yield-potential conditions.
ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION
Russian wheat aphid
