The offering of diagnostic services in the determination of species identification and Trichogramma parasitism in Helicoverpa eggs provided submitters with valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of H. armigera and H. punctigera activity as well as the levels of Trichogramma activity in these populations of Helicoverpa.

The data collected on species composition showed a general trend in species composition showing Helicoverpa punctigera prominent early in the season (95% H. punctigera, 4% H. armigera and 1% H. punctifera) and remaining so until late November where Helicoverpa armigera became more prominent. Several collections from the Darling Downs however showed very high levels of H. punctigera (87%) as late as January. The most notable change in species composition in this study compared with other of previous years and project (UQ34C) is the presentation of an additional (putative) species H. punctifera. Data collected on levels of parasitism early in the season showed zero to very low (2%) levels of Trichogramma parasitism. These rates of parasitism rose very slowly over the months before Christmas, peaking in January at around 40% before then falling sharply presumably due to cultural regimens in cotton from which most collections were made. Almost all Trichogramma found were Trichogramma pretiosum. Rates of Trichogramma australicum were found to be 1%-2% on the Darling Downs only.

The project has clearly demonstrated that DNA based diagnostics are viable tools for helping in the control of Helicoverpa in a sustainable economic manner. Diagnostic turnaround times are currently within the timeframes needed for accurate decision making when choosing best practice strategies for control and can deliver this information in a very cost effective way. These assays are now sufficiently robust that they can be performed by non-expertise in a simple laboratory or even a kitchen with a few inexpensive equipment items. It is the recommendation of this research team that that these assays should be regionalised. This will improve further the speed of turn around of collection to information by significantly shortening the sample transit times.