Spread of Bracon phylacteophagus, a biocontrol agent of Phylacteophaga froggatti, and impact on host.

Abstract

Bracon phylacteophagus Austin (Hym:Braconidae) was first established in New Zealand in 1988 as a biocontrol agent for the introduced Eucalyptus leaf-mining sawfly Phylacteophagafroggatti Riek (Hym: Pergidae). By June 1991 the parasitoid had spread throughout much of the sawfly-infested area, and in most areas where the parasitoid had been established for more than 1 year the sawfly population collapsed.