Senior Research Scientist Dr Aimee McKinnon works on the Hort Innovation-funded Almond Integrated Pest Management (IPM) project (AL22003), investigating whether insect pathogens can be used to control carpophilus beetle in almonds.
Originally from New Zealand, Aimee completed a PhD studying the benefits of applying insect pathogenic fungi to protect maize plants before moving to Australia in 2018 to work as a field researcher on honeybee activity during pollination of almonds.
Aimee’s research expertise is in microbial control agents, particularly insect pathogenic fungi (entomopathogens), for use as potential biopesticides in IPM. Since working at Agriculture Victoria, Aimee has worked with insect pathogens in different horticultural systems, including tree crops, vegetable crops, forestry and even mushrooms.
Aimee has collected many fungal strains that look promising in controlling carpophilus beetle in almonds and is investigating a suitable field delivery strategy. If successful, this will greatly benefit the almond industry as this biological pest control specifically targets the pest, is environmentally friendly and consumer safe, sustainable, pesticide free, and therefore reduces the risk of pest resistance.