Could hybridization of knotweed psyllid strains aid in establishment?

Evolution and genetic diversity are rarely considered within the field of classical biological control. We are attempting to use evolutionary and ecological principles in order to increase the efficacy of the biological control agent Aphalara itadori. We introduced a heightened level of genetic diversity by crossing individuals originating from two different populations, and found that this did not have an effect on oviposiiton preference in comparison to the parental strains. We then took preliminary steps to attempt to influence psyllid development by imposing artificial selection within a subsection of our rearing population. We found some degree of host acceptance outside of the psyllid's preferred host species, hinting that with a large enough founding population, these the physiology of these psyllids may be manipulatable in the lab prior to biocontrol release.