Pest and Diseases

By 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

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

By 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

By 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

By Denis Crawford –

The immense diversity of insects has led to some amazing adaptations and mutual relationships with other organisms.

You might have read in the news recently about an environmental battle to prevent the clearing of 2000 hectares of native vegetation on a Cape York station.… Continue reading

By Denis Crawford –

Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring, published in 1962, detailed the impact of pesticides on wildlife. The book was one of the factors which led to the phasing out of DDT. Unfortunately, recent reports show some of the pesticides we use today also have unintended impacts on wildlife.… Continue reading