The latest research stories from PEARG

Author – Daniel Oppermann – undergraduate student, RMIT As an undergraduate student in a STEM degree, I had no idea what to expect from the workplace as I have no prior industry experience. I was nervous to begin my 2 week work experience program at the Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group (PEARG) in the […]

Grains and horticulture join forces to fight pest insects November 19, 2024Grains and horticulture join forces to fight pest insectsA groundbreaking new $24.79 million project is poised to revolutionise pest management for Australian grain and vegetable growers.  This initiative is a crucial step in preparing these key food production industries to reduce reliance on broad-spectrum […]

By Ann Stocker Michael Ashburner died last year at the age of 81. Most researchers know his 12-volume collection on the Genetics and Biology of Drosophila and his encyclopedic “Drosophila A Laboratory Handbook” with its accompanying Laboratory Manual. Michael was not just interested in his own work. He was passionate about genetics as a whole […]

Dr Véronique Paris, Dr Peter Mee, and Nicholas Bell Knowing that mosquitoes are involved in the transmission of the Buruli ulcer in Victoria is a breakthrough, but we need to work out what happens next to tackle the disease Understanding how infectious diseases spread is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies, especially for […]

This blog was originally shared on the Ecology & Evolution ‘research community: read it here – https://communities.springernature.com/posts/mosquito-stowaways-repeatedly-spread-new-insecticide-resistance-mutations-across-the-world Original research paper can be found at Nature Communications here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-49792-y Aedes mosquitoes are some of the deadliest animals on the planet. Two species in particular, Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), have […]

I have a passion for playing mad scientist with pesticides, all in the name of making agricultural pest control safer and more sustainable. If you’re fond of growing roses, you’re probably familiar with the frustrating critters that invade them in your garden. The critters, in this case aphids, are unfortunately fond of your roses, along […]

Dr Perran Stott-Ross and Holly Hyojung Kang This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article. Mosquitoes are some of the most effective hunters on the planet. They can track you down at great distance by sniffing out the air you breathe. Once they find exposed skin, they use their needle-like proboscises to […]

By Miriama Pekľanská As my stay comes to an end, I would like to share a few words about myself and how I fulfilled my dream of coming to Australia to complete my three-month PhD internship with the Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group (PEARG). I am from a little village near the beautiful city […]

By Eddie Tsyrlin and Ary Hoffmann This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article. Australia’s unique and diverse wildlife is a source of national pride and global fascination. But this reputation is marred by our country’s alarming rate of species extinction. Australia has already earned the dubious title of the world leader […]

by Nancy Endersby-Harshman and Ary Hoffmann This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article Dengue fever is one of the most common tropical diseases in the world, affecting several million people every year. It is transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly a species known as Aedes aegypti, the yellow fever mosquito. Dengue is a […]

by Ary Hoffmann This article was first published on Pursuit. Read the original article. From Reservoir to Fitzroy, social media has been abuzz that parts of Melbourne are being overrun by crickets. The native Australian insect may be small, but it can make a whole lot of noise – something your ears might be recovering […]

Véronique Paris, Liam Ferguson, Nicholas Bell and Ary Hoffmann Banner: Marianne Coquilleau Mosquito-borne diseases like dengue and Japanese encephalitis may feel like far-distant nightmares for many Victorians. Here, the warmer summer months coinciding with the mosquito season are more synonymous with backyard BBQs and backyard cricket than the smell of tropical strength repellents and mosquito […]

By Aiswarya Sankar I was so excited when my nomination for a work integrated learning at the Pest & Environmental Adaptation Research Group (PEARG) was accepted. I had never been to a work integrated learning before and as a Diploma in Lab Techniques student at RMIT, it was a fantastic opportunity for me to spend […]

Curious about the progress in managing insect pests in Australian grain crops? Don’t miss the GRDC’s latest podcast episode to catch up on the headway made by the Australian Grains Pest Innovation Program, as Associate Professor Paul Umina provides an update on the ground breaking research currently underway. Tune in here. It’s estimated the Australian grains […]

Hiromi Yagui, Michael Kearney & Ary Hoffmann Most grasshoppers can fly and some, notably locusts, can travel thousands of kilometres. However, there is a whole family of grasshoppers in Australia that can’t fly at all, and they are not very good at hopping either. These are the morabine (or ‘matchstick’) grasshoppers, comprising around 240 species […]