Crossing the Valley of Death: different perspectives on mainstreaming'Eretmocerus hayati'into vegetable IPM systems

Abstract

Since its detection in Australia in 1994, silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci biotype B, has impacted on Australian vegetable production by reducing yields, product quality and vectoring viruses. At times, spray failures due to insecticide resistance and poor spray coverage made the pest unmanageable. To develop workable IPM strategies for the pest, the parasitoid Eretmocerus hayati was imported into Australia by CSIRO in 2002. Over the next decade, this parasitic wasp was integrated into North Queensland's vegetable farming systems by DAF staff and others through an extensive program of research station trials and on-farm work with growers. It is now commercially available through Bugs for Bugs. This paper explores the wasp's journey from immigrant to main-stream IPM strategy by gathering perspectives from key people involved in the 'E. hayati' 'innovation' process. Responses provide insights on the challenges experienced along the way and highlight factors critical to successfully integrating biological control agents into complex IPM systems.