Management of girdling moth in blueberries

Introduction and background Pest Idiophantis habrias (Lepidoptera: Gelichiidae) About 5mm in size Virtually no information in literature or otherwise Only found near Woolgolga Mainly active through autumn and winter

Introduction and background (cont.) First symptoms Discolouration of the bush Frass on the crown of the bush Easily detachable branches Damage Ringbarking the crown of bush, killing off branches Producing callused tissue Taking plant out of production within about 3 years

Aim of research Understanding of biology and ecology of pest Life-cycle etc. Management options Chemical options Biological Cultural options Mulch system Varieties Propagation Monitoring Potential for pheromone traps

Idiophantis and parasite population numbers

Idiophantis and parasite population numbers

Rearing difficulties Our research required investigation of rearing options for Idiophantis Tested rearing methods: Field collected branches Artificial diets Potted plants Old Young Tissue culture Young shoots from blueberry plants Best results from field collected branches

Rearing difficulties (cont.) Breeding method for Idiophantis is required Tested breeding methods: Test tube Pieces of felt Branches Injured and uninjured shoots Injured and uninjured potted plants Best results gave mass release of moths (25-40) into cage with plants

Potential biological control Pupal parasites Frequently found in field collected branches No ID yet Ichneumonid wasps

Chemical control Field collected branches were dipped in insecticide solution 5 branches per replicate in each container Emerging moths were counted for each treatment Number of emerging moths in untreated control was used as a reference

Chemical control (cont.) Assay 1 - Treatments Average # Moths Assay 2 - Treatments Water control 7.4 Abamectin® (0.25ml/L) In assessment Talstar® (3 ml/L) 0.04 Exirel® (1.0ml/L) Indoxacarb (Avatar®) (0.17g/ L) 1.4 Proclaim® (0.5g/L) Pyganic® (2ml/L) 2.8 Proclaim® (0.5g/L) + Pulse® (1.0ml/L) Lannate® (1ml/L) 1.0 Talstar® (1.0ml/L) Hasten® (0.5ml/L) 4.2 Talstar® (0.2ml/L) Confidor® (0.5ml/L) + Hasten (0.5ml/L) 3.4 Maldison® (1.4ml/L) Movento® (0.4ml/L) + Hasten (0.5ml/L) 2.6 Altacor® (1.0g/L) Transform® (0.8ml/L) Pulse® (1.0ml/L) Regent® (0.4ml/L) Talstar gave the best results so far Biopest® oil (20ml/L) Second assay is still being assessed

Conclusion – Where to go? Idiophantis has posed a great challenge to rear in the laboratory We now have a way of screening insecticides in the laboratory We will screen more insecticides in the laboratory We will test a selection of promising insecticides in the field next season We will investigate pheromone options

Acknowledgements: I would like to thank: HAL, ABGA and Costa Berry Exchange for supporting the project Maurizio Rocchetti for assistance with project Costa Berry Exchange and Mountain Blue Orchards for supplying plants Phil Wilk for input and support Entomology team Craig Maddox, Ian Purdue, David and Tina Robertson and Ann Hickey for technical support.