Insect Ecology Lab @ UNE

Sue Jaggar

Sue started her PhD in 2015 investigating the interactions between two parasitoid wasps (Encarsia formosa and Eretmocerus warrae) and a predatory Hemiptera (Nesidiocoris tenuis) as natural enemies of greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). Greenhouse grown tomatoes are an important industry in the New England area. The use of biological control can minimise or eliminate the need for chemical control of these pests. Sue will undertake laboratory experiments to examine the feeding and oviposition preferences, the extent of multiparasitism, the level of competition and the outcome of interactions between these natural enemies. Greenhouse tests will then be conducted to determine the most effective combination for control of T. vaporariorum.