Call for volunteers: Integrated Pest Management with Dr Ant Rice

We are looking for volunteers who are keen observers of the natural environment to contribute knowledge and time to two exciting citizen science projects in 2023.

The projects will support the development of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices specific to Norfolk Island. IPM practices promote beneficial insects and mites, lowering damage from pest species without the extensive use of chemicals.

The projects are focused on finding out more about natural enemies of the fall armyworm, along with the host plants and seasonal behaviour of avocado spotting bug and the guava moth. This will help us better understand where, when and how to implement measures to reduce populations of these damaging pests.

There is a wide range of roles you can volunteer for, from technical oversight to just looking at – and reporting on – your own backyard. If this sounds like something you might be interested in or would like to find out more, please reach out to Bonnie at NIbiosecurity@infrastructure.gov.au and she can provide you with the project overviews.