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• Suppliers • IPM & Bio Control • Chemicals • Biocontrol News • Links |
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Trichogramma in Macadamias 2005-6 Season Report Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae (we call it MacTrix) has been used more widely for nutborer in macadamias and lychees. Crop consultants are right behind the use of MacTrix and have facilitated the rapid uptake of this important IPM tool. Many growers have been able to reduce spraying in what has been a high pressure season for most. About 550 hectares were treated and the wasps no doubt spread well beyond the release area. Many of the larger growers that have to date just released in sections of their farms are now looking at releasing more widely. For the next season BioResources is aiming to treat up to 1000 hectares. They have continued to improve the mass rearing system and will be calling for orders soon. MacTrix are supplied as parasitised nutborer eggs on corrugated cards. The cards are stapled to a leaf about head height. For lots more info go to the BioResources Web Site. July 2006 |
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Biological Services, Loxton S.A. developing new biological control agents Biological Services is a long establishedw producer of biocontrol agents with Aphytis, Encarsia, Hypoaspis and Typhlodromus the main products. The success of these products has enabled the company to expand its operations and develop several new biocontrol agents - the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani and the predatory mites Neoseiulus cucumeris for thrips in greenhouses and Euseius victoriensis for rust mite in grapes. For more details follow the links above or: Go to the Biological Services Web Site Download the pdf file (380 kb) Jan 2005
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IPM to control Lettuce Aphid in Tasmania Lettuce aphid is an insecticide resistant pest that arrived last year in Tasmania from New Zealand. The only accepted treatment in New Zealand was seedling drenches with very high rates (55ml/1000 seedling tray) of Confidor (imidacloprid). This protocol has been adopted by Australian authorities and industry despite IPM being given token acknowledgement as the ideal way to deal with it. At a meeting of an industry advisory group (entomologists and growers and IDO's from all states) last year at Melbourne Airport, Jessica Page and Paul Horne were challenged to demonstrate that an IPM approach could deliver an alternative to Confidor drenches. This could only be conducted in Tasmania at present, and so a trial was set up there with the co-operation of Lionel Hill (DPIWE Entomologist, Devonport). It would be fair to say that all at that meeting except Paul and Jessica were highly sceptical that the trial would be successful. Following is a summary of that trial: A trial to demonstrate IPM and to assess an IPM approach to dealing with Lettuce Aphid has been underway in Devonport, Tasmania, where lettuce aphid is well established. Tasmanian entomologist Lionel Hill has been working with IPM Technologies P/L (Paul Horne and Jessica Page) and Sandra McDougall (DPI, Yanco, NSW) to set up a trial to both demonstrate IPM and assess the value in terms of lettuce aphid control. Nine plantings of lettuce (0.1ha per planting) at 2 week intervals will be planted and so far 4 plantings have been placed and the first planting is now being harvested. The trial is being carried out at Forthside farm (DPIWE Research Farm) so that all available options concerning control can be assessed. A combination of susceptible and resistant varieties has been planted. All inputs (fungicides and insecticides) have been decided upon in terms of their impact on beneficial species as well as effects on pests and diseases and cost. That is, an IPM approach is being implemented and evaluated. Recommendations on what to do have been made fortnightly by IPM Technologies Pty Ltd. Lionel Hill and his team have carried out all control measures and monitored all relevant insect numbers and assessed the level of control of all pests. Three field days (at 2 week intervals) have been conducted, and attended by growers and agronomists and entomologists. Field Day 1 found high levels of lettuce aphid and high levels of ladybird and lacewing (adults). The expectation from experienced Tasmanian agronomists and growers was that this level of lettuce aphid would result in unacceptable contamination at harvest. Field Day 2 found much lower levels of aphids and much higher levels of brown lacewings and other beneficials. The growers and agronomists that had attended the first field day were very surprised at the high degree of control of lettuce aphid that had been achieved but still expected problems at harvest. They were particularly interested in the decrease in lettuce aphid numbers per lettuce rather than the level of control. They still expected rejection despite the trend we could see. Field Day 3 (Harvest) was extremely interesting. Growers were invited to assess the level of lettuce aphid by destructive sampling and to offer advice as to whether or not the crop grown at Forthside without insecticide would meet, or not meet, their own commercial standards for insect contamination.All growers present assessed the crop as meeting their standards. The first two plantings have been harvested and sold by a commercial operator. This trial has achieved two of its primary aims within 6 weeks. Growers and agronomists in Tasmania now accept and agree that drenching with Confidor is not necessarily the only option to control lettuce aphid. The level of control achieved in susceptible varieties of lettuce, without insecticide, has been equal to that currently achieved by confidor drenches. The demonstration has shown that IPM is a viable alternative to routine pesticide applications. Growers and agronomists attending the trial now agree that they have a better alternative to a totally insecticide based option and can understand how control of other pests fits within an overall strategy. There are 7 more plantings to be harvested and assessed. The overall trial is yet to be assessed. However, we have demonstrated that an IPM approach CAN deliver results and that lettuce aphid is simply one more pest to be dealt with when growing lettuce. At this stage we can say that an IPM approach has worked and is at least equal to industry standards. We still need to prove that an IPM approach can deliver results throughout the growing season and this work is underway. In commercial crops using Confidor drenches (in both Tasmania and Victoria) we have seen massively reduced numbers of predators (lacewings and ladybirds) and increased levels of pests (Heliothis). We expect massively increased problems with Western Flower thrips where Confidor is used because of effects on predators. The demonstrations in Tasmania so far demonstrate hope that a commercially viable alternative to drenches with high rates of Confidor is probable if IPM is adopted. The positive reaction of growers and agronomists present was the most encouraging aspect of the trial so far. Dr Paul Horne and Jessica Page, IPM Technologies Pty Ltd Jan 2005
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A new IPM service and persilimis producer in southwest W.A. Over the last 16 months, Manchil IPM Services has been changing the way growers have been controlling their insects by having their crops monitored weekly and in some cases releasing predatory mites. Strawberries have been monitored in Wanneroo, Bullsbrook, Neerabup, Mt Barker and Albany regions. Numerous other crops are monitored including: gerberas, roses, carnations and chrysanthemums and hydroponic crops such as capsicums, cucumbers, tomatoes and strawberries. Some field grown capsicums, eggplants, lettuces and tomatoes are also monitored as well as olives, raspberries, cherries and stone fruit. We released predatory mites supplied from, Horticultural Crop Monitoring‚ (Phytoseiulus persimilis) in the 2003 season from late August till early October and achieved good control, with most growers only needing to spray once with a miticide. Cloche or plastic tunnels are used on most farms which encourage the two-spotted mites to develop very quickly. The plan for the upcoming season will be to release predatory mites during the June-August period, as this should be more successful. The advantage of releasing early in the season is that it is much easier to eradicate the mites while they are in low numbers, before hotspots start developing. Thrips (Western Flower Thrips) are not a major problem during this time of the year, and by cleaning up the mites by September you are able to go back to "harder" insecticides to control thrips without killing predatory mites or flaring mites up with chemicals like methomyl. With extreme weather conditions in Albany and Mt Barker and no cloches for protection, we anticipated that predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis) would take longer to establish and gain control than in Perth, however the predatory mites worked extremely well. With high mite susceptibility varieties like day neutrals (Selva) not needing a miticide after releasing predators. Only 2 farms, growing Demonta required an additional miticide spray to reduce mite levels. Western Flower Thrips levels during the season were very low and only 4-5 sprays were required for either thrips or caterpillar. Rutherglen bug levels were very high at one stage but after changing to an older chemical which does not affect persimilis the levels were brought under control. The only problems facing IPM in strawberries in W.A is proving to growers that they do not require "heavy" insecticides during winter. There are no major insect concerns during winter and the elimination of hazardous insecticide residues that affect persimilis for up to 40 days, will increase the effectiveness of early releases in the season. September 2004
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Horticultural Crop Monitoring develops new release technique for persimilis in strawberries Paul Jones of Horticultural Crop Monitoring, a crop monitoring consultant on the Sunshine Coast SE Qld has developed what he calls a "simultaneous release" method for establishing the predatory mite persimilis in strawberries. Paul has developed the technique over the last few seasons with consistently excellent results so that now most strawberry growers in the area are using the method. Relatively high numbers of twospotted mite (TSM) are released with the persimilis at marked sites through the crop. The TSM develop and provide a concentrated breeding site for the persimilis which then increase to high numbers and disperse through the crop. Paul said that initially the growers were a bit cool about putting TSM out but once they understand the logic of it and see the results they are very happy. The number of sprays for mites is greatly reduced. TSM are the major pest in strawberries and can greatly reduce yields and quality. Mite resistance to miticides is a serious issue so a biological alternative is important to the industry. However, Paul said that a lot the good IPM work done in strawberries in SE Qld is then undone with the requirement to apply dimethoate over the crop from the 1st week in September if the crop is sent to Victoria. This spray is targeting fruit fly but is very disruptive to IPM and can cause mites to flair. Fruit fly is a very minor pest in field grown strawberries. Fruit fly baits have been shown to be successful in strawberries but at this stage are not permitted as a substitute for the dimethoate sprays. August 2003
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Zonda Resources (NZ) joins ABC Zonda Resources headed by Terril Marais has been accepted as a member of the ABC. Zonda produce bumblebees and a range of biocontrol agents. See Zonda for details. August 2003
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IPM Technologies now producing Hippodamia ladybirds Last spring and summer Hippodamia variegata ladybirds were observed in high numbers in a wide range of crops from Central Qld to Victoria. This species is relatively new to Australia. It is believed to have come into the country about 5 years ago and was first noted and identified on the Darling Downs in Qld. Hippodamia is a voracious feeder of a wide range of aphid species. Paul Horne of IPM Technologies said that he has tried to establish native ladybird species in the greenhouse environment with mixed results but has had more success with Hippodamia. Paul has them in culture and has small numbers for sale. More details. August 2003
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Fruit fly minimisation project in the Upper Burnett River An area wide management program to reduce the incidence of fruit fly in theMundubbera-Gayndah district is due to start in September. The project is acooperative effort between fruit and vegetable growers, towns people, local councils, Horticulture Australia, QDPI and Bugs for Bugs. The project includes the mass killing of male flies using MAT's (male annihilation traps) developed by Bugs for Bugs. The trap consists of a powerful male fruit fly attractant and malathion, an insecticide. The traps are active for 6 months and are placed at approximately 10 per hectare in growing areas and throughout the townships in the district. Local councils are assisting in placement of the traps in towns and growers are cooperating by placing them on their own properties. Growers will continue to use protein baits as part of their fruit fly management. Control of fruit fly in backyards within townships is an important part of the program. Unlike nearer the coast, there are limited fruit fly hosts outside farms and towns in the district so its hoped that the baiting program will reduce overall fruit fly pressure. Control of fruit fly with yeast baits has been very successful in citrus in the district. This method has a low impact on the many beneficial insects that inhabit orchards and that are an important part of IPM programs. Occasionally, peaks in fruit fly numbers puts pressure on the yeast bait method and growers can be tempted to apply cover sprays with broad spectrum insecticides which are very disruptive to biologically focused IPM. Its anticipated that the area wide program will reduce peaks in fruit fly and therefore the pressure to cover spray. August 2003
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Trichogramma in Macadamia Nuts Trichogrammatoidea cryptophlebiae (what a mouthful, we call it MacTrix) is now being mass reared by BioResources for use in IPM field trials. These tiny wasps (about 0.3 mm long) are an egg parasitoid of Macadamia Nut Borer (MNB) a major pest in macadamias. The wasps typically appear in good numbers in orchards near harvest but this is often a bit late to have an influence on spray decisons. Trials over the last few years have shown that releases of relatively small numbers of mass reared wasps during early nut development will speed up the natural process by four or more weeks. Larvae numbers are reduced and so is the pressure to spray. Insecticide sprays for nut borer are reduced or may not be required at all. This wasp is likely to be most effective and useful in orchards where MNB pressure is typically moderate to high. The HAL project: Advancing IPM in Macadamias MC02048 includes work to improve the mass rearing process; to make available material for field trials and to develop practical release strategies in collaboration with crop consultants. This process is well under way. More. August 2003
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