The research, being led by Cesar Australia with investment from the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) and AgriFutures, will help understand what crop types are most affected by BGA, the spread of resistant strains and whether resistance levels are increasing.

BGA damages pulses and pasture crops by feeding and spreading harmful plant viruses. In the past, growers have protected crops from this pest by spraying insecticides that control aphids effectively.

However, according to GRDC, recent research has identified some BGA populations in South Australia and New South Wales have evolved resistance to some registered insecticides, organophosphates and carbamates that are routinely used for their control.

Cesar Australia is calling on growers and agronomists who are dealing with BGA this season to send samples to their laboratories for resistance testing. They are particularly interested in BGA from pulse crops in South Australia and the Riverina area of NSW.

Cesar Australia research scientist, Dr Evatt Chirgwin, said industry help collecting samples would allow the development of regional and seasonal recommendations for effective chemical control of BGA and help prevent future resistance development or spread.

"Understanding the level of insecticide resistance of BGA to specific chemistries across different cropping regions will allow us to provide growers with informed recommendations about chemical use for management and control," Dr Chirgwin said.

For more information on collecting and posting samples, email echirgwin@cesaraustralia.com or call 0487 292 556