Insect pressure is higher than usual at a crucial time for Queensland's winter crop, but an increase in beneficials could reduce the impact of common grubs on yield.
Agronomists servicing the Downs, Maranoa, Central, and north west Queensland reported more diamondback moths, helicoverpa, and other grubs than usual in the last week of August.
And a locust plague in areas around Richmond had growers on high alert in the week before the start of the northern harvest.
The highest risk period for insect pressure had passed in north west Queensland at the time of writing, but the temperature was increasing further south about a month out from harvest.
Roma reached a high of 32.1 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, August 27, while Dalby reached 26.6C, and Emerald reached 30.5C.
The warmer temperatures, in central Queensland in particular, meant more beneficial insects were helping growers with pest control.
Dalby Rural Supplies agronomist Trent Dawson said the quality of crops around the Downs in winter had given heliothis a good breeding ground.
"We started spraying crops last week for grubs, and there were plenty around," Mr Dawson said.
"There are reports of Diamondback moths emerging in western areas as temperatures increase.
"We expect them to spread further east during spring."
Moth pressure from armyworm and helicoverpa was high in central Queensland in winter 2025, according to JB Ag Services principal Josh Bell.
"There are that many beneficials around, like lacewings and ladybeetle larvae, that we're not seeing the insect pressure translate into crop damage," Mr Bell said.
"I was doing a routine check on one chickpea crop about six or seven weeks after it had been sprayed.
"On that run, I saw that pest larvae were hatching, but they weren't surviving into later stages.
"We often see this when the weather heats up: you get an early spike in pest pressure, then the beneficials come in."
Nutrien agronomist Angus Dalgleish, based at Cloncurry, said there had been a large number of moths in July, late in the northern growing season.
"With that said, we have only double-sprayed about five per cent of crops, whereas in previous years that may have been higher," Mr Dalgleish said.
"There are grasshopper plagues in hotspots, including one between Julia Creek and Richmond, and another between Richmond and Hughenden at the moment.
"Grubs are coming through again, but we are not advising clients to spray again because we are so close to harvest."
Mr Bell said it was unlikely that many growers in central Queensland would be able to avoid double-spraying their crops for insects.