Abstract
The tomato potato psyllid, Šulc (Hemiptera: Triozidae) is a significant insect pest of Solanaceae. In early 2017, it was first detected in Perth, Western Australia. From the two years of field sampling, the predators collected represented a broad taxonomic range. The most abundant predator was green lacewing. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of the Australian native and commercially available green lacewing, Mallada signatus Schneider (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), as a biological control agent for B. cockerelli. The effect of feeding on B. cockerelli on the development rate and survival, of M. signatus were evaluated. Further, a greenhouse cage study was conducted to determine the optimal density of M. signatus larvae needed to effectively control an established B. cockerelli population. The third instar larvae of M. signatus consumed over 75 B. cockerelli nymphs in 24 hours. Following the introduction of M. signatus larvae to caged tomato plants, eight M. signatus larvae per caged tomato plant decreased B. cockerelli population by 64 % at the end of the sampling. These results indicated M. signatus, particularly at the larval stage, are an effective biological control option for B. cockerelli, especially in greenhouse tomato cultivation. This research provides valuable insights for Australia's horticultural industry, offering an eco-friendly alternative to chemical pesticides.