Anastatus Home

About this project and web site

Developing mass rearing techniques and release methods for biocontrol agents for fruitspotting bugs forms part of the HAL Multi-Industry Project.

Over the last two years we have developed a mass rearing system for Anastatus wasps, an egg parasitoid of FSB and are now at the stage of conducting field trials.

Unfortuneately, controlling FSB and assessing biocontrol agents was never going to be easy. We have had to develop a large scale trial program that includes a lot of monitoring and record keeping and that with run for several years.

This web site has been set up for the benefit of crop consultants and growers that are participating in the trials. It may also give those that are interested in this work an insight into how these wasps may be used in the future.

	Anastatus wasps upon finding a bug egg proceed to inspect it, measure it up and check that "the coast is clear" before sitting on the egg to insert its ovipositor and then its egg. The wasp egg takes about 4 weeks to develop into a wasp inside the bug egg.

	All web site content copyright 2013 BioResources Pty Ltd PO Box 578, Samford Qld 4520 email: richard@bioresources.com.au  phone (07) 3289 4919

About the Multi-Industry Project MT10049
The biocontrol work and Anastatus case study trials are part of a Multi-Industry Project. Its a collaboration of industry, government and private enterprise. The project is principally funded by avocado, macadamia, papaya and lychee grower R&D levies which are matched by the Australian Government through Horticulture Australia. NSW Department of Primary Industries and Qld Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation are also contributing funds to the project, and NSW DPI is managing the project on behalf of all partners. Other project partners include the University of Qld and BioResources Pty Ltd.

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In Brief
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- in macadamias
- in avocadoes
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