Biological control of invasive plants 2024/25

Biocontrol trials on Himalayan Balsam and Australian stone swampcrop. Australian stone swampcrop (ASS) – mass rearing of ASS mites and 2 releases of mites at each of 3 sites during 24/25. Monitoring and assessment visits of mite populations at these sites. Mass rearing of mites for 2 releases at 1 site replicating in the field an integrated management lab experiment undertaken in 23/24. Monitoring and assessment visits of mite populations at this site. Himalayan balsam (HB) – production of sufficient rust inoculum for three releases in summer 24 at one site. Overwintering assessment visits. Susceptibility testing using two new strains of rust fungus on material collected in summer 2024. Propagation of HB plants in temperature controlled glasshouses under quarantine conditions using new strains. Investigation of climatic conditions in Wales and influence on rust persistence. Monitoring Report on all works.