By Denis Crawford
The arrival of insects en masse can cause alarm, but as you will see an ‘invasion’ may not necessarily result in an infestation requiring management.
Just as our borders were reopening post-COVID, there were some arrival flights of a different kind in my region.… Continue reading
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Cabbage aphid parasite enters the colony bottom right (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
By Denis Crawford
Aphids thrive in warm, moist conditions so they are often the first insect pests that we notice in spring. Most of the aphids that cause problems in Australia are introduced from elsewhere and it’s likely they are here to stay.… Continue reading
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Field collection Mount Buffalo 2020. L-R Andre Messina, Botanist and Matthew Henderson Horticulturist (Image: Darryl Whitaker 2020)
By Dr Megan Hirst, Russell Larke and Matthew Henderson
Raising Rarity aims to increase public knowledge and awareness of rare plants and plant communities throughout Victoria. The project uses an innovative approach to save rare and threatened flora by assessing the horticultural potential of rare species, introducing these species into cultivation, providing an opportunity for home gardeners to grow these plants at home, and contribute to the ongoing conservation of these species.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy David Lullfitz
National Threatened Species Day is held in September each year and provides a fantastic opportunity to shine a spotlight on the importance of protecting some of our nation’s rarest flora. This year, Plantrite used the day to launch a new initiative which will encourage Western Australians to roll up their sleeves and play a hands-on role in the conservation of endangered plant species.… Continue reading
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An illustration of Darwin’s hawk moth feeding on Angraecum sesquipedale (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
By Denis Crawford
The value of night pollinating insects has long been overlooked, but recent studies show just how important nocturnal insects are for horticultural production.
Information about crop pollination is nearly always dominated by the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and how vital that particular insect is to the food that we eat.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Bruce Thompson
Although in major urban centres such as Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, garden pot recycling of Plastic Number 5 polypropylene pots is viable, the recycling of plastic garden pots in regional Australia is often out of the question due to the prohibitive freight costs.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford
It’s been a while (May 2019) since I wrote about the biochemical arms race being waged between plants and insects, and how some insects co-opt certain plant chemicals for their own purposes. Recent research has uncovered some particularly intriguing adaptations.… Continue reading
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Liriomyza flies are about 2mm long and not easily seen (Supplied by Denis Crawford of Graphic Science)
By Denis Crawford
Serpentine leafminer is an invasive leafminer fly that has spread through many regions of the world and was detected in Australia late last year for the first time.
Serpentine leafminer (Liriomyza huidobrensis) was first detected in Australia in the Sydney basin in October 2020 on field-grown vegetable crops.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford –
Galls are abnormal growths that can form on just about any part of a plant. Why do galls form and do they harm the plants they form on?
Galls form in response to a variety of organisms entering plant tissue in some way.… Continue reading
Read MoreBy Denis Crawford –
Recent media reports demonstrate how seemingly minor changes can have profound unforeseen effects down the track. A bit like the butterfly effect in chaos theory.
I don’t pretend to be an expert on chaos theory in general, or the butterfly effect in particular, but the way I understand it, the idea centres on how “small, nearly imperceptible changes can have massive implications in complex systems”.… Continue reading
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