If not appropriate, a another prospective biocontrol agent will be investigated. If appropriate, an application seeking its release will be submitted to the Australian regulators. Host specificity testing will be conducted in the quarantine facility at ESP. This project will initially target Liothrips urichi Karny (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), which has been released in numerous countries and appears to be very effective. If left uncontrolled, it is possible that it can spread south along the Queensland coast to Hervey Bay. However, as more infestations were found, eradication of the species was no longer possible and it is now in ‘transition to management’. It was the target of a national cost-share eradication program, based in north Queensland. Weed biological control – Clidemia hirtaĬlidemia hirta (Koster’s curse) is a fast growing weed of grazing, plantations, cropping and natural ecosystems in many countries. Other components of the project will entail providing effective biological control agents for individual country’s priority weeds. Native range exploration to seek potential candidate agents for S. campanulata and these could be introduced into Queensland for host testing. Biological control agents already exist for S. Spathodea campanulata has been sucessfully nominated as a candidate for biological control in Australia. These weeds are restricted weeds in Queensland and so are priority species for Biosecurity Queensland. While the exact composition of all new target species will depend on individual Pacific island country priorities, African tulip tree ( Spathodea campanulata) and Singapore daisy ( Sphagneticola trilobata) are viewed as important in many Pacific island countries. Biological control and ecology of chinee apple (Ziziphus mauritiana)īiological control options for several weeds that have not previously been targeted for biological control in Australia, or globally, will be explored.Endemic pathogens of giant rat's tail grass.Harrisia martinii biological control and integrated management.Giant rat's tail grass classic biological control.Weed biological control agent rear and release.Parkinsonia biological control: UU2 colony maintenance.Biological control of cat’s claw creeper.Weed biological control - prickly acacia.Biological and chemical approaches to ‘on-farm’ management of the invasive weed, Navua sedge.Weed biological control – Clidemia hirta.

Increase in gall fly biocontrol agents