Overview of current G. brimblecombei management: challenges and opportunities

Native to Australia, Glycaspis brimblecombei (Hemiptera:Aphalaridae) is considered one of the major pests to Eucalyptus plantations. Introduced first in the USA, G. brimblecombei has been detected in the main regions of commercial eucalypt plantations. In Brazil, it was introduced in 2003 being established in all eucalypt plantation regions. The primary strategy employed by forestry companies involves Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This process encompasses various stages, commencing with the detection and tracking of pest populations and culminating in the integration of both biological and chemical control strategies. The primary methods for monitoring G. brimblecombei focus on indirectly capturing adult insects through the use of yellow sticky traps and counting nymphs found on eucalyptus leaves. While the latter approach proves effective in assessing control levels, it introduces operational complexity due to the necessity of felling trees during each monitoring round when their height no longer permits leaf collection. Currently, in Brazil, there are at least 3 pesticides available for G. brimblecombei control. However, many of these products have similar modes of action, primarily pyrethroids and neonicotinoids. Additionally, in some cases, the residual action of pesticides in the field doesn't last up to 15 days, leaving room for improvement in both pesticide recommendations and the application technology employed. The most commonly used biological control agent for G. brimblecombei is the parasitoid Psyllaephagus bliteus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Published studies highlight the need for continuous releases of P. bliteus to ensure effective control. However, mass rearing of P. bliteus remains a challenge, primarily due to difficulties in rearing the host in the laboratory. Despite exhibiting promising results in the laboratory, biological insecticides have yet to find widespread commercial application in the field. It's important to emphasize that many of