Beneficial insects and mites may already be in your orchard working to reduce populations of pests. But did you know many are also commercially available in Australia?
If you can identify the beneficials in your orchard you may then be able to make more informed decisions and avoid accidentally wiping out a beneficial insect population that was helping control your pests.
Tasman’s Lacewing larva feeding on an aphid
The Australasian Biological Control Association Inc (ABC) aims to further the knowledge of beneficial insects and mites and the role they play in pest management systems. Visit their website www.goodbugs.org.au to view detailed information on ‘good bugs’ and their suppliers. ABC also publishes a book ‘The Good Bug Book’ which is available from suppliers, with some entries from the book are also published on the website.
Australiasian Biological control (www.goodbugs.com.au) webpage
Below is a selection of beneficial insects and mites relevant to the apple and pear industry:
Chilean Predatory Mite
- https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/05/11821-DEDJTR-AG-Pests-of-Pome-and-Stone-Fruit-Pocket-Guide-e-book_WEB-V1.pdf (page 57)
- http://www.goodbugs.org.au/Good%20bugs/persimilis.html
Victorian Predatory Mite
Western Predatory Mite and Predatory Mite
Spined Predatory Shield Bug
Green Lacewing
- http://www.goodbugs.org.au/Good%20bugs/lacewing-green.html
- https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/05/11821-DEDJTR-AG-Pests-of-Pome-and-Stone-Fruit-Pocket-Guide-e-book_WEB-V1.pdf (page 76)
Tasman’s Lacewing (or Brown Lacewing)
- https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/05/11821-DEDJTR-AG-Pests-of-Pome-and-Stone-Fruit-Pocket-Guide-e-book_WEB-V1.pdf (page 77)
- http://www.goodbugs.org.au/Good%20bugs/lacewing-brown.html
Hover Fly
- https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/05/11821-DEDJTR-AG-Pests-of-Pome-and-Stone-Fruit-Pocket-Guide-e-book_WEB-V1.pdf (page 80)
- http://www.goodbugs.org.au/Other%20good%20bugs/otherpredators.html
Mite-eating Ladybirds and Plague Soldier Beetle
Common Spotted Ladybird and Transverse Ladybird
Mealybug Ladybird
- https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/05/11821-DEDJTR-AG-Pests-of-Pome-and-Stone-Fruit-Pocket-Guide-e-book_WEB-V1.pdf (page 98)
- http://www.goodbugs.org.au/Good%20bugs/cryptolaemus.html
Braconid Wasps and Telenomus Wasps
Tetracnemoid Parasite
Trichogramma Wasps
- https://extensionaus.com.au/ozapplepearipdm/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/05/11821-DEDJTR-AG-Pests-of-Pome-and-Stone-Fruit-Pocket-Guide-e-book_WEB-V1.pdf (page 102)
- http://www.goodbugs.org.au/Good%20bugs/trichogrammacarv.html
Woolly Aphid Parasite
Reviewed by Stephen Quarrell (UTAS) and David Williams (Agriculture Victoria)
