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Potatoes Australia December 2016/January 2017
the spread of the psyllid is to
use trapping methods. If it is
detected on a trap, there is a
chance that it can be eradicated
quickly. This is just what a
group of researchers, industry
and growers are intending to
do in Australia.
The traps are then collected
every 7-10 days, either by field
officers or Tasmanian Institute of
Agriculture (TIA) staff including
Research Fellow Dr Robert
Tegg. They are then wrapped
in plastic covers and sent off to
a lab where they are analysed
under a microscope by TIA
Entomologist Dr Paul Walker.
Over 300 traps from a variety
of locations are collected each
growing season. All of the
various types of psyllid that are
found on the trap are identified
to make sure they are not TPP.
While thousands of psyllids
are detected in the traps each
year, no TPP has ever been
found in any trap over the five
years that the surveillance has
been in place. Beneficial insects
that are known to prey on
TPP, such as brown lacewings,
are also counted. In the last
growing season, over 1,753
native psyllids were found in
the traps and 1,366 beneficial
insects were also caught.
By putting out traps in large
numbers, this project has
provided the potato industry
with some certainty that TPP
is not yet present in Australia.
The efforts of industry, and
the support of researchers,
has contributed to Australia’s
biosecurity by providing regular
trapping data that supports the
claim of continuing freedom
from this destructive exotic
pest. Funding for the project
is expected to continue until
mid-2017.
Atherton Tablelands
Bundaberg
Lockyer Valley
Riverina
Ballarat
Thorpdale
Scottsdale
Swansea
Devonport
Ulverstone
Orford
Richmond
Penola
For more information,
please visit
Any unusual plant pest
should be reported
immediately to the relevant
state or territory agriculture
agency through the Exotic
Plant Pest Hotline: 1800
084 881.
For further information,
contact AUSVEG National
Manager – Science and
Extension Dr Jessica Lye
or AUSVEG Biosecurity
Coordinator Callum Fletcher
on 03 9882 0277 or jessica.
or
callum.fletcher@ausveg.
This communication has
been funded by Horticulture
Innovation Australia Limited
using the Fresh Potato
Levy and funds from the
Australian Government.
Project Number: PT15007
Potato growing regions in eastern Australia where yellow sticky traps
are being placed to monitor for incursions of Tomato-potato psyllid
(Bactericera cockerelli ). Source:
i
Tomato-potato psyllid nymphs. Source: Whitney
Cranshaw, Colorado State University,
Adult Tomato-potato psyllid. Source: Pest
and Diseases Image Library,
The Front Line