I. To evaluate the risk of Q-biotype whitefly for Australia: Q-biotype identifications in Australia have not been verified by other methods or researchers. According to research in the US, it is unlikely that they would occur in the field in the presence of predominantly and in the absence of high spray regimes. It is also believed that high temperatures and other environmental conditions affect Q-biotype’s ability to establish. Despite the lower risk factors, it is, however, important to continue monitoring for Q-biotype as they are considered a bio-security risk. While their presence may not have immediate implications for BollGard II cotton in the field, it would for glasshouse breeding and research facilities as well as for horticulture and floriculture industries (eg. especially glasshouse/greenhouse situations). To determine the risk to cotton production the Q-biotype honeydew characteristics would need to be investigated.

II. To gain hands-on knowledge about whitefly management in cotton: Whitefly management in Arizona relies largely on neonicotinoids (imidacloprid) and insect growth regulators (buprofezin and pyriproxifen). The Q-biotype is resistant to all three. Imidacloprid resistance by the B-biotype is increasing in both cotton and vegetable crops. While the cotton industry is managing whiteflies quite successfully, the vegetable industry often still employs older, harsher and cheaper chemistry as IPM in vegetables is not viable. This practice may increase resistance in whiteflies as they move between crops. There are implications for areas of Australia where the cotton and horticultural industries overlap (eg. St. George, Emerald, Burdekin) with respect to whitefly management and resistance buildup. For example, intense selection in the horticultural industry could render products ineffective in the cotton industry.

III. To assess the importance of horticultural industries in whitefly management (eg. vegetable and ornamentals): It is difficult to efficiently manage whiteflies in cotton in areas where vegetable growers use different management strategies. James Bethke suggested that poinsettia was a most likely source of introduction for Q-biotype whitefly in Australia as plants reared for the Christmas season may have been propagated from overseas stock. Sources of commercially sold poinsettias in Australia would need to be verified and it would be advisable to sample poinsettias for Q-biotype incursions as this plant species is an excellent whitefly host.

IV. To learn field techniques for whitefly research experiments: The field studies will help us to design better whitefly experiments with realistically defined parameters to understand the pest’s lifecycle and effect of mortality factors in Australian cotton growing systems.

V. To assess and improve on current Australian whitefly resistance testing based in Toowoomba: Zara Ludgate and Richard Lloyd identified several issues with the techniques they use that can be improved by changing some of their procedures. This should help to make resistance testing more efficient and reliable.