Assessment of fuzzy logic to enhance species distribution modelling of two cryptic wood boring beetle species in Australia.

Fuzzy logic presents a promising approach for Species Distribution Modelling by generating a value that can be used for comparative purposes termed 'environmental favourability'. In contrast to 'presence probability', 'environmental favourability' remains robust regardless of species prevalence. This characteristic facilitates effective comparisons across species with varying levels of prevalence.

Deliberately introduced dung beetles in Australia: 12 years of occurrence and abundance records from 2001 to 2022.

Since 1968, the Australian Dung Beetle Project has carried out field releases of 43 deliberately introduced dung beetle species for the biological control of livestock dung and dung-breeding pests. Of these, 23 species are known to have become established. For most of these species, sufficient time has elapsed for population expansion to fill the extent of their potential geographic range through both natural and human-assisted dispersal.

Evaluation of the Likelihood of Establishing False Codling Moth () in Australia via the International Cut Flower Market.

Kenya and some other African countries are threatened by a serious pest (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the false codling moth. The detection of is quite difficult due to the cryptic nature of the larvae during transportation and is therefore a concern for Australia. This insect is a known pest of agriculturally important crops.

Dosage consistency is the key factor in avoiding evolution of resistance to phosphine and population increase in stored-grain pests.

Background: Control of pests in stored grain and the evolution of resistance to pesticides are serious problems worldwide. A stochastic individual-based two-locus model was used to investigate the impact of two important issues, the consistency of pesticide dosage through the storage facility and the immigration rate of the adult pest, on overall population control and avoidance of evolution of resistance to the fumigant phosphine in an important pest of stored grain, the lesser grain borer.

Results: A very consistent dosage maintained good control for all immigration rates, while an inconsistent dosage failed to maintain control in all cases.

Strong resistance to phosphine in the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae): its characterisation, a rapid assay for diagnosis and its distribution in Australia.

Background: The recent development of very high resistance to phosphine in rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), seriously threatens stored-grain biosecurity. The aim was to characterise this resistance, to develop a rapid bioassay for its diagnosis to support pest management and to document the distribution of resistance in Australia in 2007-2011.

Results: Bioassays of purified laboratory reference strains and field-collected samples revealed three phenotypes: susceptible, weakly resistant and strongly resistant.