By Nigel Crump, General Manager and Principal Scientist, AuSPICA

Why monitor insect pests?

Pests such as aphids, thrips, and tomato potato psyllid are significant threats to potato crops due to their ability to cause direct damage and transmit plant pathogens.

• Aphids: known vectors of potato virus Y (PVY) and potato leaf roll virus (PLRV), aphids play a pivotal role in spreading this devastating viral disease, which affects both seed and commercial potato crops.
• Thrips: while their direct damage to potatoes may be limited, thrips can exacerbate plant stress and are vectors for tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), which can complicate overall crop health management.
• Tomato potato psyllid (TPP): this pest represents a particularly severe threat. First detected in Australia in 2017, TPP causes damage not only through direct feeding but also as a vector for the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso). This bacterium is the causative agent of zebra chip disease, a condition that significantly reduces potato yield and quality. Zebra chip renders tubers unmarketable due to discolouration and altered texture upon cooking, resulting in substantial economic losses. To date CLso has not been reported in Australia, but we must keep active surveillance to ensure this pathogen does not become established.

DNA-based species diagnostics is providing early identification of pests.

Advanced monitoring techniques: collaboration and innovation

AuSPICA, in collaboration with Intertek, has revolutionised pest monitoring for seed potato crops by adopting Macquarie insect traps paired with DNA-based diagnostics. This innovative approach combines physical trapping with molecular diagnostics, offering precise identification and quantification of pest species captured in each trap.

• Macquarie insect traps: these traps are optimised to attract a wide range of pest species, including aphids, thrips, TPP, and serpentine leaf miner, providing reliable capture rates mfor monitoring programs.
• DNA-based diagnostics: using genetic analysis of trapped insects, this method enables accurate species identification, even when physical identification is challenging due to morphological similarities of insects and the laborious time taken to process samples. DNA diagnostics also provide timely quantitative data on pest presence, supporting detailed insights into population trends.

Seed Potatoes Victoria’s support

Seed Potatoes Victoria has been instrumental in supporting this initiative and is collaborating with AuSPICA to roll out the new traps across major seed-growing regions in Victoria. This collaboration aims to enhance pest surveillance and management practices, particularly in high-priority areas where seed potato production is critical.

“This initiative represents a significant step forward in pest management for the potato industry,” says Seed Potatoes Victoria Chair Mark Peters.

“By adopting innovative tools like Macquarie traps and DNA diagnostics, we’re ensuring growers are better equipped to monitor and respond to pest threats, protecting yields and supporting sustainable practices.”

Insights from AuSPICA

Barry Strahan, Senior Seed Certification Officer at AuSPICA, emphasised the practicality of the new traps.

“The Macquarie traps are straightforward to install and maintain, making them highly accessible for growers,” he says.

“This simplicity ensures that monitoring programs can be implemented efficiently, without requiring specialised expertise, while still delivering precise and actionable pest data.”

Dr Nigel Crump, General Manager of AuSPICA, highlighted the critical importance of advanced pest management tools for the potato industry.

“The implementation of robust, scientifically validated monitoring technologies is essential to ensure effective pest management,” he says.

“By integrating cutting-edge molecular diagnostics, such as DNA-based species identification, with proven physical monitoring systems like Macquarie insect traps, we are advancing our capability to detect and respond to pest threats with precision.

“Moreover, these innovations enable the early detection and management of emerging pests, such as the tomato potato psyllid, ensuring timely intervention to mitigate potential impacts on crop health and industry sustainability. This technology also supports the ongoing management of established issues, such as potato virus Y, which has been significantly reduced through targeted monitoring and intervention strategies.”

Industry sponsorship

The rollout of these advanced traps has been further bolstered by sponsorship from key industry stakeholders, including:

• Elders (Silver)
• Mitolo Group (Gold Sponsor)
• Cutbush (Bronze)
• Fairbanks Seed (Silver)
• Nutrien (Silver)
• Davies and Rose, Ballarat (Silver)
• McCain Foods (Silver)

This collective support underscores the industry’s commitment to improving pest management practices and safeguarding the future of potato production in Australia.

The role of monitoring in pest management

Monitoring these pests is essential to:

• Detect early infestations, allowing for swift intervention.
• Assess population trends, guiding the timing and selection of management strategies including time.
• Reduce reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides by targeting pest populations with precise management measures.
• Minimise the risk of resistance development in pest populations by enabling informed decisions about chemical applications.

Conclusion

The collaboration between AuSPICA, Intertek, and Seed Potatoes Victoria, combined with the support of prominent industry sponsors, is a significant step forward for pest monitoring in potato production.

The deployment of Macquarie insect traps with DNA-based diagnostics ensures earlier detection, precise species identi­f­ication, and better-informed management strategies. These innovations protect crop yields, enhance sustainability, and strengthen the resilience of Australia’s potato industry.