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References

Ireson J.E., Gourlay A.H., Holloway R.J., Chatterton W.S., Foster S.D. and Kwong R.M. (2008). Host specificity, establishment and dispersal of the gorse thrips, Sericothrips staphylinus Haliday (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a biological control agent for gorse, Ulex europaeus L. (Fabaceae), in Australia. Biological Control 45: 460-471
Sericothrips staphylinus was released as a biological control agent for Ulex europaeus in New Zealand and Hawaii following tests which showed it was narrowly oligophagous. To determine the suitability for release in Australia, further host specificity tests were conducted on Australian plants which confirming host specificity and it was released in Tasmania during January 2001. Releases of 10, 30, 90, 270 and 810 adults showed that establishment could be achieved with as few as 10 thrips. 250 thrips were chosen as the minimum number for release because this release size produced close to the maximum population growth. Surveys in early 2007 recovered S. staphylinus from 80% of 30 sites in Tasmania, but densities were low with no evidence of visible plant damage. The survey results indicated that S. staphylinus is a sedentary, latent species characterised by steady densities and low levels of damage to its host plant. Its efficacy as a biological control agent on gorse may be restricted primarily by 'bottom up' effects of plant quality limiting its rate of natural increase and an inability of the thrips to reach large, damaging populations under field conditions.

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