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Fluffy bums and their aliens: Passionvine hoppers (Scolypopa australis (Walker)) and their elusive parasitoid wasps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2025

Samantha Ward Open the ORCID record for Samantha Ward [Opens in a new window] ,
David Logan ,
Luis Mata ,
Anthony van Rooyen  and
Paul A. Umina
Samantha Ward*
Affiliation:
Cesar Australia, Level 1, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick, VIC, Australia Bio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Agriculture Victoria Research, Cnr Koorlong Avenue & 11th Street, 308–390 Koorlong Avenue, Irymple, VIC, Australia
David Logan
Affiliation:
The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, 120 Mt Albert Road, Sandringham, AKL, New Zealand School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, The University of Adelaide, Urrbrae, SA, Australia
Luis Mata
Affiliation:
Cesar Australia, Level 1, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick, VIC, Australia School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Anthony van Rooyen
Affiliation:
Cesar Australia, Level 1, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick, VIC, Australia
Paul A. Umina
Affiliation:
Cesar Australia, Level 1, 95 Albert Street, Brunswick, VIC, Australia Bio21 Institute, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
*
Corresponding author: Samantha Ward; Email: samantha.edley@agriculture.vic.gov.au
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Abstract

Hymenopteran parasitoids are an understudied group of insects despite being important in biological control programs globally. Little is known about the ability of parasitoids to control the passionvine hopper (Scolypopa australis (Walker); PVH), which was introduced to New Zealand (NZ) in the 1800s and has since become a major economic pest of kiwifruit. However, in their native Australia, this species has not reached pest status, likely due to the presence of associated parasitoids. Understanding the ecology of parasitoids associated with PVH in their native range is a critical step in identifying potential biological control agents that could be used in NZ. In this study, PVH presence and occupancy on different plant species was determined and the PVH parasitoid fauna of NZ compared with the Australian fauna. Collections were undertaken in and around Melbourne, Australia, between December 2021 and May 2023 in public and private gardens, roadside verges and parklands. Parasitoids were reared from the nymphs and eggs of PVH and identified. Ten species of parasitoid were discovered to parasitise PVH, eight of which were new host records. Three parasitoids, Dryinus koebelei, Neodryinus nelsoni, and Neodryinus koebelei, were reared from PVH nymphs and seven parasitoids were reared from PVH eggs: Ablerus sp., Anastatus sp., Centrodora sp., Cheilonoeurus sp., Ooencyrtus sp., and unknown species belonging to the families Figitidae and Platygastridae. These new data have made a significant contribution to understanding the ecology of PVH in their native range.

Keywords

Australasiabiological controlHymenopteraparasitismpest
Type
Research Paper
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , First View , pp. 1 - 12
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

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