Date February 26, 1992

Title of Project Blue Gum Psyllid Biological Control

Institution where work is being conducted Uhiversity of California, Berkeley

Amount of Endowment Grant $ 12,000
Covering Period 9/91 to 8/92

Anticipated Date of Project Completion/Final Report 3 to 4 years.

Individual(s) Conducting Project:

(List Project Leader First)

Donald L. Dahlsten, Project Leader - Title Professor & Entomologist

Telephone Number (510) 642-7191

Richard Tassan - Title Staff Research Associate

Blue Gum Psyllid Biological Control

Donald L. Dahlsten and Richard L. Tassan

University of California-Berkeley

Progress Report to the American Floral Endowment, 2/26/92

A. Project Objectives:

1 . Study the biology of the blue gum psyllid in northern and southern California Eucalyptus

plantations.

2. Develop a sampling procedure for the blue gum psyllid and its natural enemies.

3. Import natural enemies of the blue gum psyllid from Australia.

4. Release and evaluate the efficacy of natural enemies of the blue gum psyllid in California

Eucalyptus plantations.

5. Develop a biological control program for the blue gum psyllid.

B. Summary Since Project’s Inception:

Exploration for blue gum psyllid natural enemies was carried out in Australia and New Zealand,

from October 1991 to February 1992. Several species of natural enemies have been found which

attack the psyllid under natural conditions.

A sampling procedure has been developed to monitor psyllid population levels on Eucalyptus

pulverulenta, a species grown in California for the fresh and processed flower market. This will

allow us to to study the biology of the psyllid under California conditions and to determine baseline

populations, prior to the release of imported natural enemies, which will then be used to assess the

post-release impact of the natural enemies on psyilid populations.

C. Results to Date:

The studies in Australia and New Zealand have resulted in the importation into our quarantine

facilities of several hymenopterous species, belonging to the genus Psyllaephagus, in the family

Encyrtidae. We have completed biological evaluations on one species, Psyllaephagus sp. A, and

have requested USDA approval to release this species from quarantine in order to begin laboratory

rearing and field releases. The biological evaluations on the other species are nearing completion.

In our California field studies, we observed psyllid populations double at each 3 week sampling

interval from late September through mid-December; peaking at over 60 psyllids per terminal shoot.

With the onset of cooler temperatures, population levels declined to about 30 psyllids per shoot

just prior to harvest in mid-February. To date, none of the native natural enemies we have

observed appear to play any significant role in reducing psyllid populations.

D. Future Plans Covered by the Endowment Grant:

The project has followed very closely the time table outlined for 1991 and we do not anticipate

there will be any significant deviation from the 1992 time table. Most importantly, we plan to

make the first release of imported natural enemies within the next several months.

E. Anticipated Benefits for Floral Industry:

Establishment of one or more effective imported natural enemies of the blue gum psyllid will once

again allow growers to produce a product without the need the need for repetative, costly

insecticide treatments.

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