Teagasc probes biological control of crop pest in Leinster and Munster

Researchers at Teagasc and University College Dublin are investigating the biological control of a new insect which has damaged crops in Munster and Leinster in recent years.

Since its accidental introduction into Ireland, the eucalyptus leaf beetle pest, paropsisterna selmani, has posed a significant threat to our commercial foliage, biomass and forestry industries.

This is the first paropsine leaf beetle to become established in Europe and it was initially discovered damaging foliage crops in Kerry in 2007.

“Our research is investigating whether it is safe to release the biological control agent into Ireland. We are investigating its response to Irish weather conditions, its success in attacking the pest species and the extent to which it will only attack the pest species,” said Dorothy Hayden of Teagasc.

Predictions of the patterns of spread, suggest that it is only a matter of time before it is established throughout the island and this poses a bio-security risk to the UK and mainland Europe.

“In the absence of natural control, insecticide applications have been used by foliage growers, but the unfortunate side-effect of this is the disruption of the successful biological control of another invertebrate pest, a sap-sucking psyllid,” said Ms Hayden.