Pests,Predators, and Parasites

Abstract

The development of resistance to insecticides and the hazards inherent in their use present ever-increasing problems in insect control today. The difficulties and dangers have given impetus to research on other means of combating pests. Australia has always been prominent in the field of biological control, and the CSIRO Division of Entomology is an important centre, keenly seeking controls for both insects and weeds. Progress in the search for and establishment of parasites of Sirex, the pine pest, was described in Rural Research 64. This article reviews six other projects of particular interest, namely those involving potato moth, buffalo fly, white wax scale, green vegetable bug, lantana, and skeleton-weed.