Leucopis hennigrata as a biological control agent against Dreyfusia nordmannianae
Dreyfusia nordmannianae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) is a pest in the European production of Christmas trees. It was introduced into Europe in the mid-1800s and is a pest of Abies alba and A. nordmanniana (Pinaceae). Leucopis hennigrata (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) is a native predator in the EPPO region though it is absent from Northern Europe where the main production of Christmas trees occurs. Host range testing (no-choice tests) indicates that L. hennigrata will have a low risk to non-target species. Supporting field surveys in Switzerland and Georgia (where L. hennigrata is present) did not find L. hennigrata on any sampled non-target species. The results indicate that L. hennigrata is a suitable classical biological control agent against A. nordmannianae in Northern Europe.
Sources
Justesen MJ, Seehausen ML, Havill NP, Kenis M, Gaimari SD, Matchutadze I, Zembrzuski D, Ravn HP (2023) Evaluation of Leucopis hennigrata (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae) as a classical biological control agent of Adelges nordmannianae (Hemiptera: Adelgidae) in northern Europe. Biological Control https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2023.105264