The survey and monitoring of recently established Australian soldier fly populations in the North Island, New Zealand (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Abstract

Australian soldier fly (Inopus rubriceps) recently established on free-draining soils in Northland, but heavy clay soils were apparently unfavourable for population development. Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) grass was severely damaged by high densities of the larvae. Soldier fly in North Taranaki was actively dispersing eastward from New Plymouth at a rate of 1-2 km per annum. The population behaviour of first infestations by soldier fly in New Zealand is discussed. Larval densities apparently peaked soon after establishment but subsequently declined over a variable number of years to a lower, relatively stable level. Responses by invertebrate soil-living predators to high densities of soldier fly larvae may have been responsible for the subsequent regulation of population densities.