1. Management of girdling moth in blueberries

2. Introduction and background
Pest
Idiophantis habrias (Lepidoptera: Gelichiidae)
About 5mm in size
Virtually no information in literature or otherwise
Only found near Woolgolga
Mainly active through autumn and winter

3. Introduction and background (cont.)
First symptoms
Discolouration of the bush
Frass on the crown of the bush
Easily detachable branches
Damage
Ringbarking the crown of bush, killing off branches
Producing callused tissue
Taking plant out of production within about 3 years

4. Aim of research Understanding of biology and ecology of pest
Life-cycle etc.
Management options
Chemical options
Biological
Cultural options
Mulch system
Varieties
Propagation
Monitoring
Potential for pheromone traps

5. Idiophantis and parasite population numbers

6. Idiophantis and parasite population numbers

7. Rearing difficulties
Our research required investigation of rearing options for Idiophantis
Tested rearing methods:
Field collected branches
Artificial diets
Potted plants
Old
Young
Tissue culture
Young shoots from blueberry plants
Best results from field collected branches

8. Rearing difficulties (cont.)
Breeding method for Idiophantis is required
Tested breeding methods:
Test tube
Pieces of felt
Branches
Injured and uninjured shoots
Injured and uninjured potted plants
Best results gave mass release of moths (25-40) into cage with plants

9. Potential biological control
Pupal parasites
Frequently found in field collected branches
No ID yet
Ichneumonid wasps

10. Chemical control
Field collected branches were dipped in insecticide solution
5 branches per replicate in each container
Emerging moths were counted for each treatment
Number of emerging moths in untreated control was used as a reference

11. Chemical control (cont.)
Assay 1 - Treatments
Average # Moths
Assay 2 - Treatments
Water control
7.4
Abamectin® (0.25ml/L)
In assessment
Talstar® (3 ml/L)
0.04
Exirel® (1.0ml/L)
Indoxacarb (Avatar®) (0.17g/ L)
1.4
Proclaim® (0.5g/L)
Pyganic® (2ml/L)
2.8
Proclaim® (0.5g/L) + Pulse® (1.0ml/L)
Lannate® (1ml/L)
1.0
Talstar® (1.0ml/L)
Hasten® (0.5ml/L)
4.2
Talstar® (0.2ml/L)
Confidor® (0.5ml/L) + Hasten (0.5ml/L)
3.4
Maldison® (1.4ml/L)
Movento® (0.4ml/L) + Hasten (0.5ml/L)
2.6
Altacor® (1.0g/L)
Transform® (0.8ml/L)
Pulse® (1.0ml/L)
Regent® (0.4ml/L)
Talstar gave the best results so far
Biopest® oil (20ml/L)
Second assay is still being assessed

12. Conclusion – Where to go?
Idiophantis has posed a great challenge to rear in the laboratory
We now have a way of screening insecticides in the laboratory
We will screen more insecticides in the laboratory
We will test a selection of promising insecticides in the field next season
We will investigate pheromone options

13. Acknowledgements: I would like to thank:
HAL, ABGA and Costa Berry Exchange for supporting the project
Maurizio Rocchetti for assistance with project
Costa Berry Exchange and Mountain Blue Orchards for supplying plants
Phil Wilk for input and support
Entomology team
Craig Maddox, Ian Purdue, David and Tina Robertson and Ann Hickey for technical support.