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NZ: Have your say on Macrolophus pygmaeus to protect tomatoes

The Environmental Protection Authority is inviting submissions on an application to release a new type of predatory insect, which tomato growers want to use to keep greenhouse whitefly in check. Tomatoes New Zealand, an industry body that represents tomato growers, has applied to import and release the predatory mirid, Macrolophus pygmaeus.

The application says this insect has proved effective at controlling whitefly overseas, and it could be used to control this greenhouse pest here in New Zealand.

If the application is approved, Tomatoes New Zealand says commercial operators will rear colonies of Macrolophus pygmaeus, which would then be released into greenhouses.

You can read more about this application online.

Public submissions are an important part of the process for considering applications to release new species into New Zealand. If you want to make a submission, you must have submitted it to the EPA by 5:00pm Friday 7 February 2014.

Source: scoop.co.nz