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Jessica Smart

PhD Student
School School of Agricultural & Wine Sciences
Location DPI, Elizabeth Macarthar Agriculture Institute
Phone 02 4640 6426, 0430 481 260
Fax 02 4640 6300
Email jess.smart@industry.nsw.gov.au

 

Project

Evaluation of a native parasitoid species, Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron), in combination with Sterile Insect Technique for biological control of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt), in Australia

Summary

The proposed thesis aims to determine the effectiveness of the augmentative release of the parasitoid species, Diachasmimorpha tryoni (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), in combination with the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) for biological control of the Queensland fruit fly, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae), in Australia. Bactrocera tryoni is one of the worst pests of horticultural production in Australia costing the state and federal governments $129 million between 2003 and 2008 (Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry 2007). In Australia, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is one of the current techniques used to control B. tryoni (Reynolds et al., 2010). Internationally, the augmentative release of Australian parasitoid wasps as biological control agents have been successfully used for the control of other economically significant fruit fly species (Bokonon-Ganta et al., 2007; Wong et al., 1991). However, these same species have been over-looked in Australia. Theory (Barclay, 1988) and evidence (Rendon et al., 2006) suggests that a combination of both the SIT and the augmentative release of parasitoid wasps would provide increased control of B. tryoni than either technique alone.

Supervisors

Dr Olivia Reynolds, Dr Cheryl Jenkins, Prof Geoff Gurr

Funding source