Potential non-target impact of Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Cleopus japonicus Wingelmuller (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a biocontrol agent for putative release to control the butterfly bush Buddleja davidii Franchet in New Zealand

2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 201-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R McNeill ◽  
Toni M Withers ◽  
Stephen L Goldson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Buddleja Davidii ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides ◽  
Butterfly Bush

scholarly journals Farmer response to minirelease strategy for the clover root weevil biocontrol agent

2010 ◽  
Vol 63 ◽  
pp. 283-283
Author(s):  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
T.M. Eden
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Technology Transfer ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
High Demand ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

The Irish wasp Microctonus aethiopoides was released in 2006 as a biocontrol agent for the clover root weevil Sitona lepidus a serious pest of white clover in New Zealand Following the successful and very rapid establishment of the Irish wasp there was high demand by farmers for the biocontrol Around 2000 minirelease samples were distributed directly to farmers through pastoral industry networks and field days These consisted of ten fieldcollected weevils exposed to the wasp in the laboratory at parasitism rates such that over 99 of samples contained parasitoids A random subsample of 100 recipient dairy farmers was surveyed subsequently by post with 59 responses The minireleases were well received most going to farmers that had previously experienced losses due to the weevil The mini releases were very effective in terms of getting the biocontrol to farms with 92 of insects arriving in good condition and 96 being released on the same day The farmers appeared receptive of the information provided with the samples indicating the project was successful in terms of technology transfer There was good recognition of DairyNZ with 79 showing awareness of the organisations funding enabling the biocontrol research

scholarly journals Distribution of the clover root weevil biocontrol agent in the North Island of New Zealand

2008 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 24-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
T.M. Eden ◽  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
G. Burch
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Point Sources ◽  
The North ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Successful Establishment ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides ◽  
Training And Support

The Irish wasp Microctonus aethiopoides was released in 2006 as a biocontrol agent for the clover root weevil Sitona lepidus a serious pest of white clover in New Zealand Following successful establishment two strategies were implemented to accelerate the widespread establishment of the parasitoid throughout the North Island The first approach was the establishment of regional nursery sites that act as point sources for natural and assisted dispersal With the assistance of Regional Councils and major landowners these were set up at sites favourable to the wasp and local people were provided the training and support to undertake collections and distribution of parasitized weevils Secondly samples of parasitized weevils were distributed for release directly to farmers through pastoral industry networks and events Initial results indicate that while the parasitoid established rapidly at Taranaki and Waikato nursery sites as anticipated it has failed to establish in Northland in two successive seasons

scholarly journals Response to clover root weevil outbreaks in South Canterbury, Otago and Southland; the agricultural sector and government working together

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Hardwick ◽  
C.M. Ferguson ◽  
P. Mccauley ◽  
W. Nichol ◽  
R. Kyte ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Parasitic Wasp ◽  
Parasitoid Wasp ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Working Together ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

Clover root weevil was first discovered in the northern South Island in 2006, and an introduced biocontrol agent the parasitoid wasp Microctonus aethiopoides, was immediately released there in response. As the weevil spread southwards, ongoing releases and natural parasitoid dispersal generally supressed it to economically tolerable levels. However, mild winters in the southern South Island during 2013 and 2014 allowed weevil populations to grow and spread quicker than the parasitoid. This severely impacted white clover production and farm profitability in parts of South Canterbury, Otago and Southland, thus, scientists and industry conducted 18 months of intensive parasitoid releases of ca. 1.1 million parasitised weevils at 6000 sites. The parasitoid rapidly established at all 50 monitored release sites and dispersed from them. The biocontrol agent now occurs at all locations in South Canterbury, Otago, Southland, and elsewhere in New Zealand, where clover root weevil is present. Keywords: biological control, pest spread, parasitic wasp, Sitona obsoletus, Microctonus aethiopoides, South Canterbury, Southland, Otago

scholarly journals Rationale for release of the Irish strain of Microctonus aethiopoides for biocontrol of clover root weevil

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 285-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
M.R. McNeill ◽  
B.I.P. Barratt ◽  
S.A. Whiteman
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides ◽  
Poor Efficacy

A European biotype of Microctonus aethiopoides was identified as the best candidate biocontrol agent for Sitona lepidus a serious New Zealand pasture pest A Moroccan biotype was already present throughout the country and hence there was no requirement to obtain Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act approval to release new biotypes However as research had shown mating between the two biotypes produced hybrids with poor efficacy against target hosts and that the Moroccan biotype attacked several native weevil genera serious reservations were held about introducing the European biotype Concerns were overcome with the identification of a parthenogenetic strain of European M aethiopoides from Ireland which has little risk of hybridisation and a narrower host range than the Moroccan biotype Following regulation of M aethiopoides as a risk species this strain was considered to be a new organism Approval was sought and gained under the HSNO Act to release the strain

scholarly journals Twophase openfield test to confirm host range of a biocontrol agent Cleopus japonicus

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 184-190
Author(s):  
M.C. Watson ◽  
T.M. Withers ◽  
R.L. Hill
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Laboratory Tests ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Test Species ◽  
Buddleja Davidii

The buddleia leaf weevil Cleopus japonicus was released in New Zealand in 2006 as a biological control agent for the weed Buddleja davidii A twophase openfield design was used to confirm laboratory host range and examine nontarget impacts in the field This was the first field trial undertaken in New Zealand and included six nontarget plant species Feeding and dispersal of the agent on the test species and B davidii were compared Cleopus japonicus strongly preferred B davidii Larvae were recorded on Verbascum virgatum and Scrophularia auriculata during the choice stage of the trial Killing the B davidii plants in the second phase resulted in adults feeding on the two exotic species V virgatum and S auriculata Minor exploratory feeding was recorded on the natives Hebe speciosa and Myoporum laetum These results confirm that laboratory tests conducted to assess the safety of this agent for release in New Zealand accurately predicted field host range

scholarly journals Clover root weevil tolerance of clover cultivars

2016 ◽  
Vol 78 ◽  
pp. 197-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.M. Ferguson ◽  
D.M. Barton ◽  
B.A. Philip
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Insect Pests ◽  
Parasitic Wasp ◽  
Cultivar Differences ◽  
Popular Belief ◽  
Single Mechanism ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Major Loss ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

Clover root weevil arrived in New Zealand about 20 years ago causing major loss of productivity as it progressively spread across the whole country. It is now largely controlled by an introduced parasitic wasp biocontrol agent Microctonus aethiopoides (Irish ecotype). However, management of insect pests should not rely on a single mechanism and clovers resistant or tolerant to this weevil would be a useful augmentation for farmers to have. This investigation reports on the suitability of 22 clover cultivars to attack from the weevil. Results have shown that contrary to popular belief, red clovers are not universally less favourable to the weevil than white clovers and usefully, within both species cultivar differences point to the possibility of resistance to this pest. Keywords: Clover root weevil, Sitona obseletus, clover cultivars

scholarly journals Field parasitism of Rhinocyllus conicus Froelich (Coleoptera Curculionidae) by Microctonus aethiopoides Loan (Hymenoptera Braconidae) in Otago and South Canterbury

2002 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 263-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.J. Murray ◽  
B.I.P. Barratt ◽  
C.M. Ferguson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Reproductive Status ◽  
Reproductive State ◽  
Weed Biocontrol ◽  
Rhinocyllus Conicus ◽  
Parasitoid Development ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

Microctonus aethiopoides was first recorded parasitising the weed biocontrol agent Rhinocyllus conicus in 1994 Subsequent studies found parasitism at several sites in Otago and South Canterbury In this study a further 15 sites in Otago and South Canterbury were sampled to determine the extent and level of parasitism of R conicus by M aethiopoides Rhinocyllus conicus adults were collected from nodding thistles and were either reared or dissected to determine parasitism levels For dissected weevils the stages of parasitoid development presence of teratocytes weevil size and female weevil reproductive status were recorded Parasitism was recorded at 12 sites Lucerne the host plant of the weevil Sitona discoideus for which M aethiopoides was originally introduced into New Zealand was absent from most of these sites Levels of parasitism were similar to those recorded in previous studies reaching up to 17 in the Hakataramea Valley Results relating to weevil size and female weevil reproductive state are discussed

What habitat does spiny snout mite occupy in Tasmania

2015 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 446-446
Author(s):  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
P.J. Gerard
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
Predatory Mite ◽  
Habitat Specificity ◽  
Nontarget Organisms ◽  
Flea Control ◽  
Potential Biocontrol Agent

Spiny snout mite (Neomolgus capillatus) is a potential biocontrol agent for clover flea (Sminthurus viridis) a white clover pest on dairy farms in warmer and wetter parts of New Zealand In the 1990s this mite was introduced from Brittany France into Tasmania for clover flea control Results during the release programme were highly promising and subsequent anecdotal farmer reports indicate widespread decreases in damage As N capillatus is a predatory mite and already known to attack nontarget organisms habitat specificity will determine whether it could be introduced into New Zealand without risk to native insects To assess this pastures on nine of the original Tasmanian release farms and adjacent nontarget habitats ranging from bush wetlands eucalypt stands to sand dune country were sampled in April 2014 Litter samples were collected heat extracted and mite species identified Neomolgus capillatus was found at effective densities in pastures that had good clover cover Where present it displaced Bdellodes spp mites that are ineffective against clover flea No N capillatus were found in the nontarget habitats all of which lacked clover and contained other predatory mites including Bdellodes spp Therefore the preference by N capillatus for lush pastures makes it an excellent prospect for introduction as a biocontrol agent into clover flea prone regions of New Zealand

scholarly journals Susceptibility of redheaded cockchafer Adoryphorus couloni in New Zealand to Metarhizium anisopliae strain DATF001 (Chaferguard)

2009 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 395-395
Author(s):  
M. Brownbridge ◽  
R.J. Townsend ◽  
T.L. Nelson ◽  
B. Gicquel ◽  
M. Gengos
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Mode Of Application ◽  
Costelytra Zealandica ◽  
Direct Incorporation ◽  
Human Recreation

The Australian pasture pest Adoryphorus couloni (redheaded cockchafer RHCC) continues to slowly spread from the Port Hills and Banks Peninsula through Christchurch towards productive agricultural land on the Canterbury Plains There are currently no products chemical or biological registered in New Zealand to control this pest In Christchurch several parks used extensively for human recreation were badly damaged by RHCC grubs in the autumn/early winter of 2008 and had to be treated with chemical insecticides (diazinon) Laboratory trials were thus carried out to assess the susceptibility of New Zealand populations of RHCC to a microbial biocontrol agent Metarhizium anisopliae DATF001 (ChaferGuard) registered in Australia Fungal activity was directly influenced by temperature and mode of application Infection and mortality occurred faster at 20C than 15C High mortality levels (90100 after 7 weeks) were obtained when larvae were treated by topical application (105 conidia/grub) or exposure to the dry ChaferGuard formulation in soil; >80 of the cadavers in these treatments were mycosed Direct incorporation of conidia into soil was the least effective treatment Grass grub (Costelytra zealandica) was unaffected by the fungus This trial confirmed the efficacy of DATF001 and its potential for use against New Zealand populations of RHCC

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