July : Selitrichodes release
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Selitrichodes release
Since hearing that we have permission to
release Selitrichodes neseri, a potential biological control agent for
Leptocybe invasa, we have been inundated with requests to release the wasp in
different areas. We are working very hard to build up populations of the
parasitic wasp to release as soon as possible, and as widely as possible.
Populations could not be maintained at
high enough levels to release while we were waiting for permission, given the
uncertainties around that process. Doing so now is a challenge, given winter
conditions and the natural life-cycle within which one works. Despite these
constraints, the population in quarantine is growing well and we are confident
that we might be able to make first releases in the next month. The first
release is likely to be in the Zululand where Leptocybe populations are high
and in an ideal state of larval development, and where temperatures are likely
to be consistently higher for the next while compared to most other regions. Breeding
will continue with the same urgency, as we would then aim to be releasing the
wasp in other parts of the country during the course of the spring and summer.
Bernard Slippers
on behalf of the Leptocybe
biocontrol team at FABI
-------------------------
Bernard Slippers (PhD)
Associate Professor, Department of Genetics and
Co-chair of the Global Young Academy
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) | University of Pretoria | Cnr Lynnwood and University Roads | Hatfield 0083 | Pretoria | South Africa
Postal address:
Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) | University of Pretoria | Private bag X20 | Hatfield | 0028 | South Africa
Tel: +27 12 420 2463
Fax: +27 12 420 3960
www.fabinet.up.ac.za
Twitter @bernardslippers
