Objective:
To identify natural enemies of insect pests pink bollworm (PB), Pectinophora gossypiella, and Formosan Subterranean Termite (FST), Coptotermes formosanus. Pink bollworm is believed to be native to northern Australia and FST is native to southeast Asia. New natural enemies are expected to be discovered for shipment to USDA cooperators.

Approach:
Conduct field trips to a range of habitats in Australia and SE Asia where PB and FST are believed to be native. Collections of PB natural enemies will be made and returned to ABCL facilities for further study. Candidate parasitoids of PB will then be forwarded to USDA cooperators in the United States. Research on the ecology of FST will be conducted in Asia. Cooperators under the supervision of ABCL staff will conduct the field work and ship potential biological control agents(pathogens) to USDA cooperators.