Biocontrol agents:
Ennogera nassaui and
Neopolycytus insectifurax
Target pests:
Eucalyptus tortoise beetle, Paropsis charybdis
What do the biocontrol agents look like?
Ennogera and Neopolycytus are egg parasitoids that complete their development from egg to pupa inside the egg of the Eucalyptus tortoise beetle and then emerge from the egg as a tiny adult wasp (about half the size of the host egg).
What do Eucalyptus tortoise beetles look like?
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Eucalyptus tortoise beetle.
Source: Dean Satchell The beetle is 8-14 mm long, has a distinct tortoise-like shape, and vary from straw-coloured to reddish-brown, with darker marks on the back. The fully grown larva is usually yellowish but sometimes pinkish, is covered with black spots, and has a dark stripe running down each side.
How would I find them?
Both the larval and adult stages feed on the foliage of blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon) and eucalypts. The adults chew notches out of the leaves along the leaf edges. The young larvae feed in groups on the new shoots but the larger larvae are usually found singly on both old and new foliage.
What about their life-cycle?
There are two generations of Paropsis charybdis per year. In August-September overwintering adults become active and, after spending some time feeding and mating, they lay eggs. Eggs are laid on the underside of leaves, usually in groups of 20-30 on new foliage.
Mature larvae for the Eucalyptus tortoise beetle.
In November-December the mature larvae drop to the ground and pupate in the soil. When the adults emerge from these pupae as the second generation, they feed for a short while and then hibernate under loose bark or in the leaf litter until the following spring.
Biocontrol agent:
Enoggera nassaui
What do they look like, what is their life cycle and how do they affect their host?
Enoggera is an egg parasitoid which completes its development from egg to pupa inside the egg of the Paropsis beetle and then emerges from the egg as a tiny adult wasp (about half the size of a Paropsis egg).
Where are they established?
Throughout Northland wherever Paropsis eggs are found.
When and how can they be harvested for redistribution?
Collect leaves with parasitised Paropsis eggs and place in foliage where there is a good supply of Paropsis beetles. Alternatively keep the Paropsis eggs in a container with a fine mesh cover until the Enoggera wasp has emerged and release the wasps.
Enoggera larvae developing inside Paropsis eggs.
Unfortunately, Enoggera is now under attack from a tiny wasp, Baeoanusia albifunicle. It slows the population growth of Enoggera and prevents it from multiplying as rapidly as it has previously.
Biocontrol agent:
Neopolycystus insectifurax
What do they look like, what is their life cycle and how do they affect their host?
This wasp is an egg parasitoid which completes its development from egg to pupa inside the Paropsis egg - feeding on the developing egg and killing it.
The distinctive colour change in Paropsis eggs resulting from the presence of Neopolycystus developing inside.
Where are they established?
Throughout Northland wherever there is a good supply of Paropsis eggs.
When and how are they best harvested for distribution?
Collect leaves with parasitised Paropsis eggs and release directly onto foliage or leave in a container with a fine mesh cover until wasps have emerged from the Paropsis eggs. Release wasps in eucalypt or blackwood foliage at the new site.