Use of isotopes and biometals to detect origin and host use of invasive arthropods

Australian horticulture is under constant threat from exotic arthropods. NSW has recently experienced major incursions of Fall armyworm, Khapra beetle, and Serpentine leaf miner. Such invasive insects are usually first detected as adults in traps without any knowledge of their port of entry or country of origin and without knowing which hosts are being attacked in Australia. Gaining such information would be very useful in designing rapid responses to incursions. The proposed scholarship will be awarded to a MRes Y 2 student, who during the MRes will conduct a study that investigates the potential of stable isotope and biometal signatures to ascertain (1) the region of origin of detected arthropods and (2) the hosts that those insects have developed in since arriving in Australia. Target species could include fruit flies, beetles, moths and other arthropods of biosecurity concern, including mites and other non-insect pests. This study has potential to build synergies with other projects dealing with molecular identification and diagnostics for a more comprehensive understanding of ports of entry, origin and local hosts of major arthropod biosecurity threats.