Mary Whitehouse

I have a background in Behavioural Ecology, focusing on arachnids and insects, which then lead to work using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Australian cotton, exploring predator/prey interactions and the factors that make an IPM system successful in an industry. I applied the insights gained from working in the cotton industry to other systems, including Australian urban environments, the New Zealand pastural system, and the hemp and macadamia industries. However, my current main focus is on the management of Varroa mites, which have only recently invaded Australia. To this end, I lead a team working with apiarists to identify novel, non-insecticidal control methods that could be developed for Australian conditions. In Australia we have the opportunity to learn what to expect from varroa from the experiences of the rest of the world, and develop an IPM approach to varroa, incorporating the different phases of a varroa invasion and overseas experiences. I would like to join COLOSS so that I can learn more about your experiences in Spain and Europe with varroa, share our experiences of IPM, and stress-test my ideas on how we in Australia could successfully manage this potentially very destructive pest.