Growers of a wide range of produce will be hoping the field trial of a new biocontrol agent in Canterbury is a success.
Scientists from the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University have released the southern ladybird in a potato crop in Hororata after lab trials showed it is an effective predator of the tomato-potato psyllid.
They're hoping the ladybirds will eventually prove as effective at killing the psyllid in the field as they have been in the lab, where they were each chomping through 100 of the sap-sucking insects in a day.
Lincoln University Professor of Ecology Steve Wratten says Wednesday's release is the first step in a much longer trial.
He says the first question is whether the adult ladybirds will remain, and also whether they have laid any eggs on the potatoes.
"Then we want the young ladybirds, called larvae, to hatch of course and start spreading over the crop and again persisting, given its late season if that's all that happens I'll be very happy."
Professor Wratten says if the ladybird does thrive in field trials growers will be able to purchase the ladybirds for release on their farms.
The tomato-potato-psyllid causes major damage in New Zealand's potato and tamarillo industries and also damages capsicums, tomatoes and eggplants.
