Less well-known is that most of Australia's insects, spiders and other invertebrates are also unique, and a highly diverse source of undiscovered molecules. Its aim is to discover new molecules for pharmaceutical and agrochemical use. There are commercial, health and environmental requirements to find more specific targets for chemical insecticides than those used now. The proteins will be incorporated into screening programs for new chemicals. We are using a range of insect pathogens including bacteria, viruses, nematodes and fungi as environmentally-safe and specific pesticides.
Delivery systems are as transgenic products or chemicals.
Over 120 different insecticidal proteins have been identified from Bt and many more are yet to be discovered. We are targeting budworm and bollworm pests, especially in cotton, tomatoes and sorghum, diamondback moth in vegetables, mosquitoes and fruit fly. Our nematode arsenal is based on a long history of nematode research and we have products for many important pests of forestry, agriculture and horticulture. Metarhizium is a fungus which infects many insect species when the spores come in contact with the insect or are ingested. We have identified specific metarhizium strains which will infect and kill locusts and crickets, cane grubs and scarab grubs and we have developed formulations to apply these strains in many different types of environmental conditions.