Golam is assisting David Walter in his research project on the biodiversity of mites in Queensland rain forests. Crop plants and rainforest plants are attacked by a complex of economically significant mite pests. These mite pests are generally controlled by synthetic chemicals. However, the use of such compounds has a number of disadvantages, such as toxicity to natural enemies, adverse environmental impact, and the development of resistant populations of the mite pests. Some of the chemicals may be phytotoxic, thus reducing growth and flowering.
Biological control is an important strategy for the management of mite pests.
In crop systems, biological control of mites has proven successful in reducing the need for regular miticide sprays. Invader animal species have various sets of ecological, physiological, genetic and morphological characteristics that help them fit for wide dispersion, colonisation and competition. This project will examine the invasion and colonisation of agricultural and rainforest environments by phytoseiid mites.