Report for Environment Australia, March 2002.

With regard to the releasing of parasitoids and ladybird predators of the pest scale Pulvinaria urbicola on Pisonia grandis and the assessment of biocontrol options for hawkmoths.

1. Dan Smith. Senior Principal Entomologist, Qld Horticultural Institute.
2. Dan Papacek. Entomologist/Director, Bugs for Bugs.

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• Report On Visit to the Coringa – Herald Nature Reserve and SE Magdelaine Cay 15-22 March, 2002 (PDF - 208.5 KB)

About this report

• Assess the levels of scale and of the beetle Cryptolaemus montrouzieri on NE Herald, to clarify whether the beetle will persist at low scale host levels.
• Further assess the establishment of the parasitoids Euryischomyia flavithorax and Metaphycus sp. It was important to confirm their establishment throughout the island and their persistence in low scale numbers particularly if beetle numbers had so declined as to allow some scale resurgence.
• Determine if efforts to establish the high priority parasitoid Coccophagus ceroplastae in December were successful and to make further releases of C. ceroplastae if required.
• Reassess the situation on SW Herald particularly if regrowth had occurred with more rain. Release relevant biocontrols as required.
• Assess the situation and (if required and conditions allow) release C. montrouzieri on Coringa and SE Magdelaine.
• Investigate and report on biocontrol options for the hawkmoths on the forested cays.
• Provide a simple set of guidelines for the information of Environment Australia officers monitoring scale insect throughout the Coral Seas Reserves. This guideline (on a CD-Rom disk) is to include photographs showing the scale at various levels of infestation in the Coral Seas Reserves, and be sufficient to enable Environment Australia officers to make accurate, routine observations concerning scale insect population levels.