How do you control insect pests without damaging biodiversity?

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Tribolium beetle eggs and larvae

Photographer Natalia Hernandes

D.melanogaster males fighting

Photographer: Quentin Lang

Myzus persicae

Known as the Green Peach Aphid (GPA). This is a major aphid pest of many crops including brassica in part because it vectors viruses. We are investigating methods to control them using transgenic plants that express RNAi sequences. This research is funded by the Australian:India Strategic Research Fund (Caterpillar and Aphid in Brassica -CARiB project)

D. repleta

Photographer: Quentin Lang

Termite mound Western Australia

Photographer: Charles Robin

Helicoverpa armigera

One of Australia's biggest pests of Agriculture, the 'cotton bollworm' caterpillars eat a wide range of crops including corn, cotton, tomatoes. We are part of the Helicoverpa genome project team and have been investigating investigating the population genetics and the genetic mechanisms by which it becomes resistant to insecticides. Photographer: Quentin Lang.

Phasmid from Borneo

Photographer J.L. Bowman

2016-01-27 20.23.17

Aedes aegyptii. Photo credit and arm credit: Perran Ross

Odonta from Borneo

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Drosophila suzukii (spotted wing drosophila) on a raspberry. Photo Credit: Kathy Garvey U.C. Davis