Crops at risk from ladybird parasite


29 March 1999


Crops at risk from ladybird parasite


LADYBIRDS throughout Scotland are under greater threat from a parasitic wasp than anywhere else in Europe, according to a scientist at the Scottish Crop Research Institute.

Mrs Irene Geoghegan says infestation by the wasp, dinocampus coccinalae, could have a “massive” knock-on effect as populations of aphids – the ladybirds prey – thrive and damage crops and other plants.

She said more work was needed to establish what could be done to solve the problem, for instance, by developing an antidote.


  • The Herald 29/03/99 page 2

See more