What made you look into Mealybug? What was it about this subject that interested you?
- Mealybugs are a fascinating insect group. That they’re hidden and often difficult to find, makes them a formidable foe in the orchard or the vineyard. Their waxy covering means they can repel a certain amount of moisture, and crawler and juvenile mobility adds a further layer of complexity to monitoring and control options. I see them as almost being a super pest – take your eyes off them for a moment and they’ll sneak through the gaps.
What was something surprising about the research that you discovered?
- The fact that crawlers appear to actively engage in aerial dispersal occurring over tens of meters per individual, was surprising. That they have no wings adds to the power of this aspect of their ecology. Aerial dispersal exemplifies further why mealybug control is so challenging.
What was something challenging that you encountered during the research?
- Like many insect pests, mealybug population growth increases steeply if unchecked. A way of describing this is to consider a single female mealybug ovipositing eggs somewhere on an apple tree in spring. She’ll produce about 200 eggs. If we assume no control, either by insecticides or biological control, three generations exposed to a typical growing season in the North Island, upper South Island, will see her descendant’s number about 1 million by April/May. Complicating this aspect is the influence of climate change and the potential for a partial fourth generation. Under this circumstance, the numbers of descendants would increase further. When interacting with growers, my challenge has always been to drive home the need for good mealybug (and pests in general) monitoring supported by good control options.
When did you start working at BSI?
- After a 17-year career in banking, I became a fulltime student at Victoria University of Wellington. There, I did a BSc majoring in botany and ecology. After completing my MSc in 2004, I immediately secured work at HortResearch in Jim Walker’s lab. Following Jim’s retirement, the opportunity arose for me to spread my wings and move into pipfruit entomology, a change I’m enjoying very much.
Have you always been interested in plant/pest & disease research?
- From a very young age, I have enjoyed plants, especially New Zealand’s indigenous flora. But, after my first university lecture on insect biological control, something I was blissfully unaware of to that point, I was hooked on the merits of this natural ecosystem service and the potential to increase its effectiveness in horticulture.
What’s been the most interesting piece of research you’ve completed at PFR?
- For most of my 21 years in science, I’ve worked with the wine sector, where the issue of mealybugs spreading grapevine leafroll virus was a significant economic problem for which there were/are no easy solutions. This complex relationship spanning multiple species, allowed me to start a PhD in 2009, where I evaluated and tested applied management responses. This experience was a career highlight, no doubt. It stretched me intellectually and exposed me to some amazing people, whether inside science or the grower community. I’m forever grateful to Jim and PFR for giving me that opportunity.