Building BiCEP: a global collaboration for the biological control of eucalypt insect pests

Abstract

Insect pests of Australian origin threaten the productivity and sustainability of eucalypt plantations worldwide. In the last decade, new pests such as the bronze bug (Thaumastocoris peregrinus) Carpintero & Dellapé (Heteroptera: Thaumastocoridae), two gall wasps (Leptocybe invasa and Ophelimus maskelli) and a lerp psyllid (Glycaspis brimblecombei) have emerged as key global pests, while longer-established pests such as the eucalyptus snout beetle (Gonipterus species complex) are reemerging as significant issues in some regions. The speed at which these new pests have emerged, invaded and then spread globally has been taxing the international plantation eucalypt industry’s ability to effectively manage them using conventional methods such as deployment of resistant germplasm or insecticidal control. Only biological control has shown potential in effectively managing these pests. In the past, affected countries have managed these programs individually. However, the frequency at which new pests are emerging and the rapidity with which they move around the world means that combating them in isolation is no longer an effective strategy. An Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) scoping project in 2011-12 demonstrated that the strong industry and professional links needed to underpin an international collaborative approach to biological control are now in place.