The Northern Territory government and Darwin City Council have released hundreds of native ladybirds onto frangipani trees in an effort to combat the spread of an exotic pest known as the papaya mealybug. The pest has already spread through the suburbs of Darwin and is threatening commercial papaya production as well as backyard trees. The release of native ladybirds is part of a trial aimed at reducing mealybug numbers and slowing their spread.
It has since spread through the suburbs of Darwin and is a threat to commercial papaya production , as well as backyard trees.The NT government is releasing native ladybirds onto frangipani trees to combat the exotic pest .
"There's populations of this ladybird already in Darwin, but what we've done is get extra from a biological-control supplier to boost numbers." "Especially down in the where there's different species and different colours of frangipani — I don't want to lose them." He said the NT sold a lot of potted frangipanis and he felt for home gardeners in Darwin who were battling the pest.Dr Thistleton said the pest could spread through the transportation of plant materials."Obviously if it gets into a state that has a big paw paw industry, it's could be quite significant."He said the pest originated from Central America and research suggested it would most likely stick to tropical climates only.
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Native Ladybirds Exotic Pest Papaya Production Darwin Mealybug Frangipani Trees
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