Introduced insects and other invertebrates in Australia
Introduced insects and other invertebrates that are currently in Australia, and which can have a detrimental impact on the environment, include:
- Red fire ant - Solenopsis invicta
- Yellow Crazy Ant - Anoplolepis gracilipes
- Honeybees - Apis mellifera
- European wasps - Vespula germanica
As with other invasive pests, once established across Australia, introduced invertebrates are difficult to eradicate.
Control methods
There are a number of control methods available for invasive insects and other invertebrates. These methods include conventional control techniques and biological control.
Conventional control
Conventional methods of control include pest strips, pesticide applications and baiting. Baiting programs treating the entire infested area usually need to be supplemented with pesticide applications. Chemical control on its own can be problematic as it generally is not species specific, leaving areas depleted of invertebrates.
Pest strips and other insecticides have been used to control feral honeybee colonies. This is very labour intensive and is not an effective method of controlling or eradicating feral colonies of honeybees over a wide area.
Biological control
Biological control is the control of pests using natural predators, parasites, disease-carrying bacteria or viruses that would normally attack the pest in its country of origin. Any biological control should be used in conjunction with conventional control techniques to manage the damage caused by invasive insects and other invertebrates.
An example of biological control is the use of a parasitic wasp to control the European Wasp. A pest species in Australia, the European Wasp was first recorded in Melbourne in 1977. In 1989, a small parasitic wasp (Spechophaga vesparum), that was discovered overseas, was released in Victoria after stringent testing to make sure that the parasitic wasp would only attack the European Wasp. The parasitic wasp attacks European Wasp nests and feeds on the developing larvae and pupae. The parasitic wasp has helped reduce European Wasp numbers to manageable levels. However, to date, there is no evidence that the parasite wasp has become well established in Victoria.
Australian Government action
The processes below are listed or have been nominated for listing as Listed key threatening processes under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EBPC Act).
- Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity following invasion by the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean
- The reduction in the biodiversity of Australian native fauna and flora due to the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (fire ant)
Resources
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