Imported beetles to join bush fly fight

Two new species of European dung beetles which are active earlier in the year are expected to be introduced to the South West to battle the region’s bush fly scourge.

Research into where the dung beetles should be released is underway by the WA Department of Agriculture and Food.

The move is aimed at reducing the number of flies around in the early part of summer because existing beetle species are not active until it is too late.

The CSIRO in Canberra will import the beetles from France and Spain next month in a project funded by Meat and Livestock Australia.

The beetles will be imported as adults but, due to the quarantine process, are expected to have a high mortality rate.

Department senior entomologist Rob Emery said there was a ‘‘gentlemen’s agreement’’ that the beetles, when imported and reared, would be made available to WA by the CSIRO.

Mr Emery warned, however, it would be 10 to 20 years before the beetles made a dent in the fly population — if at all.

‘‘The beetles are unpredictable, one of the species introduced in the South West which we thought wouldn’t do much ended up being one of the most effective,’’ he said.

‘‘At this time we just can’t say what effect the beetles would have on the bush flies.’’

Two of Australia’s leading bush fly and dung beetle experts, John Matthiessen and Dr James Ridsdill-Smith, have joined the project.

Both men are former research scientists in CSIRO entomology and were responsible for developing dung beetle research in WA during the 1970s and 80s.

Mr Emery said the immediate challenge for researchers was to identify favourable sites for the new species, which hatched in spring, before the proposed release date of 2013-14.

‘‘If these sites are able to support a spring active dung beetle population, the beetles will be harvested and redistributed to other locations in WA,’’ he said.

Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman said bush flies were native and had affected the lives of West Australians since the first settlement.

‘‘Research has shown that the beetles provide many benefits, including improved nutrient recycling, a reduction in worms in livestock and a reduction in fly populations,’’ he said.