Predators feed directly on their hosts. There are a number of predators that make a contribution in a wide range of crops, these include birds, bats, spiders, ants, lacewings and predatory beetles and bugs.

As yet we don’t know how significant these are in controlling the Pisara. We have found some spiders, green lacewings and spined predatory shield bugs but obviously not enough to keep the Pisara larvae in check  - at least in this season.

Spined predatory shield bugs may be the most significant insect predator as adult bugs and eggs were found in the quandongs and some larvae found looked like they had been attacked by predatory bugs.