One of the key challenges in conservation biological control (CBC) is to understand the distance over which populations and/or activity of natural enemies are enhanced following the provision of floral or other resources. If flowers are provided, the pollen can be used as a marker to address this key question if the pollen of the added floral resource differs from that in the immediate environment. This technique has been used for hover flies in New Zealand with the pollen of tansy leaf (Phacelia tanacetifolia). Alternatively, pest-infested ?bait? plants can be placed in a gradient out from the floral strip and parasitism or predation rates assessed with distance. This has been done recently in New Zealand. This presentation will use recent data to explain how this key problem in CBC can be addressed.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Epiphyas postvittana (light brown apple moth)
Species 2: Homoptera Aphididae Metopolophium dirhodum (rose-grain aphid)
Species 3: Hymenoptera Braconidae Dolichogenidea tasmanica
Keywords: parasitoid, cereals
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