Pest & Environmental Adaption Research Group

***applications close 26 March***

WE ARE HIRING
Technical role in our molecular lab, full time, continuing contract, based in Parkville
jobs.unimelb.edu.au/en/job/91951...

First case of Japanese encephalitis reported in NSW for this season; take steps to avoid mosquito bites if you live in or are visiting western NSW https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/20250215_00.aspx

Mozzies may be carrying Japanese encephalitis this summer. Here’s what to know if you’re spending time outdoors Health authorities in Victoria and NSW are warning of an increased risk of potentially life threatening mosquito-borne disease. What can you do to protect yourself and your family?

For more on Japanese encephalitis virus and the detections in NSW already this season, see my article at @aunz.theconversation.com https://theconversation.com/mozzies-may-be-carrying-japanese-encephalitis-this-summer-heres-what-to-know-if-youre-spending-time-outdoors-246781

Mosquito control starts at home - Enjoy Véronique's video companion to our article in Pursuit pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/Wer...

Elevated developmental temperatures below the lethal limit reduce Aedes aegypti fertility Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the principal vectors of dengue and continue to pose a threat to human health, with ongoing urbanization, climate change, and trade all impacting the distribution and abun...

High temperatures reduce mosquito fertility - our latest work now published! @pearg.bsky.social @bvanheerwaarden.bsky.social

journals.biologists.com/jeb/article/...

Populations of the Australian saltmarsh mosquito Aedes vigilax vary between panmixia and temporally stable local genetic structure Pest management programs can operate more effectively when movement patterns of target species are known. As individual insects are difficult to track, genomic data can instead be used to infer moveme...

NEW PREPRINT on Aedes vigilax - the Australian saltmarsh mosquito.

This mosquito can fly great distances, but there's more to this than initially meets the eye

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

‘One of the most important species for science’: how the humble fruit fly transformed 4 fields of research Fruit flies have contributed to some of the most important scientific discoveries over the last century. They should be celebrated – not sprayed.

theconversation.com/one-of-the-m...
New article atThe Conversation by Ary Hoffmann and Caitlyn Perry - a nice quick read on the importance of the humble fruit fly in research (please no fighting over the "best" model organism, all have their place!)

Will be interesting to see how they go with the OGTR approval.
Presumably they'll need APVMA permits as well for this and the FAW product.
There is also the issue of general public and local community consent.
Several layers to these things.

Simulating Genetic Mixing in Strongly Structured Populations of the Threatened Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) Genetic mixing aims to increase the genetic diversity of small or isolated populations, by mitigating genetic drift and inbreeding depression, either by maximally increasing genetic diversity, or min...

New paper on bandcoot genomics and genetic mixing, led by John Black (who has just submitted his thesis)

doi.org/10.1111/eva....

We are now keenly seeking LBAM (lightbrown apple moth) from around Melbourne. If you have an apple tree, or a grapevine, please take a look and see if you can see moth damage and webbing. We are after live larvae.
Some good reference images here - www.wineaustralia.com/growing-maki...

My Garden Path | Dr Perran Ross - Gardening Australia We meet Dr Perran Ross - a mosquito researcher and learn about his work to better understand these unwelcome garden visitors.

I am delighted to be on the latest episode of Gardening Australia to talk about mosquitoes

www.abc.net.au/gardening/ho...

Insect repellents work – but there are other ways to beat mosquitoes without getting sticky Summer is no fun when mosquitoes are biting. Insect repellent creams, sprays, and lotions are safe and effective but there are alternatives. Here’s what works and what doesn’t!

Don't like putting on insect repellent? There are plenty of creams, sprays, and lotions that are safe and effective in preventing mosquito bites. But maybe you're after something else? theconversation.com/insect-repel...

Exciting news: our lab has just received funding to undertake more research into new approaches for controlling agricultural pest insects

blogs.unimelb.edu.au/pearg/2024/1...