Australian Journal of Entomology (2008) 47, 160-167

Andrew P. Davies and Myron P. Zalucki (2008)
Collection of Trichogramma Westwood (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from tropical northern Australia: a survey of egg parasitoids for potential pest insect biological control in regions of proposed agricultural expansion
Australian Journal of Entomology 47 (2), 160-167
Abstract: Trichogramma limit pest damage to crops by killing the developing embryo of their insect host at the egg stage. Their impact on the potentially insecticide resistant species, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner), is considered integral to the resistance management plan for transgenic cotton production in the Ord River Irrigation Area in northern Western Australia. The dominant species of egg parasitoid in Ord River Irrigation Area cotton crops is the introduced Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley). Surveys of similar northern Australian regions earmarked for agricultural expansion revealed that T. pretiosum has been introduced, or has adventitiously dispersed, to all developing agricultural regions of northern Australia. Several previously unsequenced species were collected during surveys in more pristine habitats. Trichogramma pretiosum demonstrates an apparent ability to supersede native Trichogramma species and is perhaps favoured by agricultural expansion.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Andrew P. Davies, Myron P. Zalucki

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
population dynamics/epizootiology

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Trichogramma pretiosum (parasitoid)			Australia (NT+QLD)