One small Australian wasp is killing another tiny Australian wasp in South Africa’s commercial forests – and it is a good thing. Leptocybe invasa was first spotted in Eucalyptus trees outside its native Australia in 2000 and has since has caused significant damage to plantations across the world.
The wasp landed in South Africa in 2007 and research has been underway to limit and reduce the economic impact of the pest. Professor Bernard Slippers from the University of Pretoria had been testing the abilities, preferences, reproduction cycle and life expectancy of a number of potential biocontrol agents in local conditions.
Another Australian wasp, Selitrichodes neseri, was found to kill the pest and was released on 425 sites in South Africa. Tests are currently determining the effectiveness of the introduction. Bernard Slippers believes the newcomer will not eradicate the problem completely, but rather bring down the economic damage to manageable levels.
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Image Credit: Engineering News
