Background/context:

Exotic species of plant-parasitic mites are a significant threat to Australian agriculture, both as pests themselves and as vectors of viral and virus-like pathogens. Current knowledge of the pest mite species encroaching upon Australian shores is low, due to lack of information, lack of acarological expertise in quarantine, and poor diagnostics. The identification methods currently available for the majority of economically significant mites do not allow accurate and reliable identification of species. This means that the reliable separation of non-pest species from harmful pest species is not possible, and current practices are not sufficient to protect Australia from invading exotic mite species.

 Aim:

This sub-program aimed to improve current methods of identifying spider mites, to develop novel diagnostic techniques to detect mite pests, to produce "LucID" keys for identification of harmful spider mites in tropical Australia, and to create and develop a reference collection and database.

Major Outcomes:

An interactive key of spider mites and their relatives in Australia has been produced and delivered to industry to improve the current methods of identifying spider mites. This user-friendly key, developed using LucID software, incorporates video footage, photos and other information. Thousands of spider mite specimens, relatives and natural predators have been collected and stored in the University of Queensland Insect Collection, the Queensland Museum and the Australian National Insect Collection. Information gained from these specimens has been added to the interactive key and the National Plant Pest Database organised by Plant Health Australia to aid mite identification by quarantine officers. New genera and species of spider mite have been discovered (four new species of Oligonychus spider mites). Various spider mites important to the sugarcane industry, to Brisbane nurseries (Camelia japonica), to Stanthorpe apple orchards, to western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis), and to the citrus industry have been successfully identified. Successful rearing of Floracarus biocontrol agent of Lygodium has occurred in a joint project with the US Department of Agriculture Biocontrol Laboratory based at CSIRO Long Pocket.

For more information contact:

Dr Jenny Beard
The University of Queensland
Phone: +61 (0)7 3365 7085
Email: jenny.beard@aqis.gov.au