This project will assess the toxicity of reduced risk insecticides against a range of commercially available biocontrol agents for use in integrated pest management programs by the horticultural industry.

What is the biosecurity problem?

If exotic pests become established in Australia, it may be possible to initially base IPM on biocontrol agents available in Australia.

The outputs of this reasearch are to:

• assess new reduced risk insecticides which are being produced for the Horticulture Industry for the control of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera, and Aphids. For example, the insecticide Spirotetramat is proposed for control of aphids, cicadas, grape louse, whitefly, cottony cushion scale and mealy bug in a range of horticultural crops. Whilst the efficacy of these pesticides is being evaluated against existing pests, not much is known of their potential impact (direct and indirect) on biocontrol agents, and
• identify and monitor existing naturally occurring biocontrol agents (sticky traps, plant samples) to obtain information on their phenology, spatial distribution and abundance in two horticultural crops.

Who will be the end-users of this research?

• The horticultural industry.

Jessica Harrison doing trials in the field.