Importing <i>Tamarixia triozae</i> into containment in New Zealand

Abstract

The parasitoid Tamarixia triozae (Burks) (Hymenoptera Eulophidae) has been imported from Mexico into containment in New Zealand as a potential biological control agent for the tomato/potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli (Sulk) (Hemiptera Triozidae) The tomato/potato psyllid is a North American pest that was first reported in New Zealand in 2006 This psyllid has been found to vector the bacterial disease Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum or psyllarous and has now become a major pest on both greenhouse and outdoor solanaceous crops Inundative releases of T triozae have been used to control the tomato/potato psyllid in greenhouse crops in North America In New Zealand this parasitoid may also have potential for the classical biological control of this psyllid Data to support an application for the full release of this parasitoid will be obtained by comparing the efficacy of T triozae and an undescribed species of Tamarixia found in New Zealand in 1997; establishing the ability of T triozae to parasitise the tomato/potato psyllid on capsicums tomatoes and potatoes; and undertaking host specificity testing using indigenous psyllids Approval to import T triozae was obtained under the HSNO Act 1996 and HSNO Order 1998 (ERMA Approval Code NOC00253039) and the Biosecurity Act 1993 (MAF Biosecurity Permit to Import Live Animals 2008035896)

<i>Bactericera cockerelli</i> incursion dispersal and current distribution on vegetable crops in New Zealand

“…The research emphasis has been on the effective use of insecticides (van Toor et al 2007;Berry et al 2009) and exploration for biological control agents within New Zealand (Workman & Pedley 2007a, b;Anon. 2008a) and overseas (Workman & Whiteman 2009). Psyllid management has become critical for maximising crop production and quality and to ensure market access for export fruit (Robertson 2008e).…”

First record of Tamarixia dahlsteni Zuparko (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), a parasitoid of Trioza eugeniae Froggatt (Hemiptera, Triozidae) and current status of Tamarixia species in Mexico

“…Some of these species have already been part of integrated pest management strategies with remarkable results. For instance, T. triozae, the parasitoid of the potato psyllid Bactericera cockerelli, was introduced to New Zealand for the biological control of the psyllids that vectors the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso) (Workman and Whiteman 2009). This bacterium has been linked to different diseases in plants of the Solanaceae family (Munyaneza et al 2007).…”

The potential ofDicyphus hesperusas a biological control agent of potato psyllid and sweetpotato whitefly in tomato

“…The list of natural enemies of B. cockerelli in North America includes several parasitoids and predators (Butler & Trumble, 2012 a , b ). However, so far none of the evaluated parasitoids or predators have been demonstrated to be effective on a large commercial scale under greenhouse conditions (Workman & Whiteman, 2009; Banks, 2012; Butler & Trumble, 2012 a , b ; Rojas et al , 2015). Biocontrol of whitefly in tomato in North America has been typically achieved by releasing the parasitic wasps Eretmocerus eremicus Rose & Zolnerowich and Encarsia formosa Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) (Hoddle & van Driesche, 1999; van Driesche et al , 2001 a ; Greenberg et al , 2002) but this approach requires weekly releases of the parasitoids and often has to be supplemented with pesticide applications (van Driesche et al , 2001 b ).…”