Home1 July 2025
Biological control, which uses natural enemies to manage pests, has been practised for over a century. Over this time, there have been improvements in establishment success and minimising off-target effects.
However, many traits that influence biocontrol efficacy remain poorly understood, as long-term studies of established biocontrol programs are rare. With genomic tools now more accessible and powerful than ever, we have new opportunities to uncover more factors that shape the success of biocontrol agents. We are addressing this gap by performing genomic analyses of a parasitoid wasp used for biocontrol in Aotearoa, New Zealand, testing samples from throughout an eight-year mass-rearing program and several decades post-release.
The microbiomes of eukaryotic biocontrol agents are often overlooked. Moreover, although mass-rearing is known to affect the genetic diversity and fitness of biocontrol agents, its impacts on their microbiomes remain largely unexplored. We recently discovered a virus carried by the wasp and transmitted to its target host during parasitism. While this virus initially infected only some wasp sub-populations, the infection spilled over into all other sub-populations during mass-rearing and has been detected in all post-release samples tested to date. We are investigating the impacts of this spillover on the virus and wasp to understand its potential influence on biocontrol efficacy, and to provide fundamental knowledge about complex interactions between viruses, parasitoids, and hosts.
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More information
- Article | Going Viral
Discover the background behind this kōrero and what inspired the research.
- Research | Genetic and genomic approaches to pest and pathogen control
Explore Sarah’s research, Genetic and genomic approaches to pest and pathogen control, which investigates the microbiomes of biocontrol agents and pests, with a focus on the Argentine stem weevil and the Varroa mite.
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- Project Co-lead | Future Biocontrol
Explore the Tranche 2 project co-led by Sarah, Future Biocontrol, which focuses on strengthening and future-proofing biocontrol strategies for invasive species management.
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About Rangahau Rising Webinar Series
Rangahau Rising is a new webinar series showcasing emerging researchers who are asking bold questions and exploring new directions in bioprotection. Each session features an early career researcher sharing their journey, ideas, and in-progress work across a range of bioprotection topics.