scholarly journals Assessment of the dispersal of Sitona lepidus (clover root weevil) in the North Island of New Zealand

1997 ◽  
Vol 50 ◽  
pp. 33-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Willoughby ◽  
P. Addison
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
The North ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root

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 Field application of biopolymercoated Beauveria bassiana F418 for clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus) control in Waikato and Manawatu

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 304-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Brownbridge ◽  
T.L. Nelson ◽  
D.L. Hackell ◽  
T.M. Eden ◽  
D.J. Wilson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Field Application ◽  
The North ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Fungal Propagules ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Feeding Zone ◽  
Fungus Beauveria Bassiana ◽  
Root Feeding

Clover root weevil (CRW) (Sitona lepidus) continues to have a severe impact on white clover in pastures in the North Island of New Zealand Trials were established in October 2005 as part of a continuing evaluation of the insectpathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana F418 strain for management of this pest F418 was applied as a rice biopolymer formulation targeting CRW larvae in the clover root feeding zone (35 cm below the surface) Overall there was a reduction in CRW numbers at all of the test sites The number of larvae recovered was significantly lower in F418treated than control plots after 3 weeks and the number of pupae was similarly lower in F418 than control plots after 6 weeks Higher levels of fungal propagules were recovered from 06 cm in the soil profile than 610 cm

scholarly journals South Island distributions of clover root weevil and its biocontrol agent

2010 ◽  
pp. 227-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.B. Phillips ◽  
M.R. Mcneill ◽  
S. Hardwick ◽  
C.M. Ferguson ◽  
J.M. Kean
Keyword(s):  
Northern Hemisphere ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
The North ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root

Clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus) (CRw), a white clover pest from the Northern Hemisphere, was first found in the North island in 1996.

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 Importation to New Zealand quarantine of a candidate biological control agent of clover root weevil

2001 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 147-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.L. Goldson ◽  
C. Phillips ◽  
M.M. McNeill ◽  
J.R Proffitt ◽  
R.P. Cane
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

Several candidate biological control agents of Sitona lepidus have been identified since a search commenced in 1997 Interestingly Microctonus aethiopoides from Europe is a much more effective parasitoid of S lepidus than the M aethiopoides ecotype already established in New Zealand To assess further the suitability of the European M aethiopoides for biological control of S lepidus 1599 infected S lepidus were shipped to New Zealand quarantine during late 2000 These yielded 267 parasitoid pupae from which 204 adult parasitoids were reared This material was obtained from a wide geographical range in Europe and has been used to establish cultures in New Zealand quarantine based on genetic material from France England Norway Finland Romania Ireland Scotland Italy and Wales This contribution presents an overview of the work associated with the importation of the parasitoids and the effort now being made to maintain genetic diversity Planned research is also discussed

scholarly journals The effect of parasitism on clover root weevil flight capability

2008 ◽  
Vol 61 ◽  
pp. 31-34
Author(s):  
T.M. Eden ◽  
M. Donald ◽  
P.J. Gerard
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Flight Activity ◽  
Biocontrol Agents ◽  
Passive Dispersal ◽  
First Instar ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Flight Muscles ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides

The Irish strain of Microctonus aethiopoides was released in New Zealand in 2006 to help suppress populations of the clover pest clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus) A study was undertaken to determine if this parasitoid will be passively dispersed through flight activity by parasitized hosts In the laboratory Irish M aethiopoides parasitized equally hosts with or without flight muscles and subsequent presence of parasitoid eggs or first instar larvae had no effect on the propensity for S lepidus to prepare to take flight during laboratory observations In the field significantly fewer clover root weevil with flight muscles were found to be parasitized compared to those without flight muscles and those that were parasitized contained predominantly eggs and first instar larvae The results were compared with other Microctonus biocontrol agents released in New Zealand and it was concluded that passive dispersal should play a major role in dispersing Irish M aethiopoides in New Zealand especially in warm dry summers

scholarly journals Clover root weevil in the South Island detection response and current distribution

2007 ◽  
Vol 60 ◽  
pp. 209-216 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.B. Phillips ◽  
M.R. McNeill ◽  
S. Hardwick ◽  
C.J. Vink ◽  
J.M. Kean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
New South ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
The South ◽  
The North ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Detection Response ◽  
Microctonus Aethiopoides ◽  
Intensive Sampling

Sitona lepidus had spread throughout the North Island of New Zealand by 2005 and was first detected in the South Island in January 2006 when one individual was found at Harewood Christchurch Intensive sampling during February 2006 recovered only two additional specimens Several specimens were recovered from a separate Christchurch location in August 2006 Localised S lepidus populations were discovered near Richmond Nelson in April 2006 and in Rai Valley in May 2006 A website established in May 2006 to provide information about S lepidus was visited a mean of 135 times per month but it was never used to report possible new South Island infestations A biological control agent Microctonus aethiopoides was released at Richmond and Rai Valley between August 2006 and March 2007 By May 2007 it was parasitising from 4 to 14 of S lepidus adults which indicates it is likely to become permanently established

scholarly journals Modelling the farm scale impacts of clover root weevil herbivory

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 312-316 ◽  
Author(s):  
T.A. White ◽  
P.J. Gerard
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulation ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
N Fixation ◽  
Gross Margin ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
Pasture Quality ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Farm Scale ◽  
Additional Nitrogen

Clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus CRW) is a major New Zealand pasture pest This study used computer simulation and decision support modelling to simulate CRW herbivory estimate the longterm consequences on clover abundance pasture production and quality and financial implications to a typical sheep and beef farmer Three farm scenarios were explored the absence of CRW and the presence of CRW with and without additional nitrogen (N) For a hypothetical 325 ha Waikato sheep and beef farm CRW decreased mean clover abundance from 21 to 13 pasture production from 9200 to 7900 kg DM/ha/year pasture quality from 105 to 102 MJME/kg DM and N fixation from 60 to 42 kg N/ha/year This resulted in a 16 reduction in the annual gross margin However assuming current prices and costs and that an N response could be consistently achieved urea could be used to replace the reduction in N fixation without affecting profits

The bionomics of an invasive speciesSitona lepidusduring its establishment in New Zealand

2009 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Gerard ◽  
S.L. Goldson ◽  
S. Hardwick ◽  
P.J. Addison ◽  
B.E. Willoughby
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Sitona Lepidus ◽  
Two Generations ◽  
Boom And Bust ◽  
Clover Root ◽  
Exotic Pest ◽  
Boom And Bust Cycle ◽  
Clover Content ◽  
Adult Abundance

AbstractThe egg, larval, pupal and adult abundance of the clover root weevilSitona lepidusGyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was monitored at three sites for the first ten years following the discovery of this exotic pest in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The species went through an initial boom and bust cycle at two sites, with populations reaching up to 1800 larvae m−2. Thereafter, winter larval populations were relatively stable, ranging between 450–750 m−2. Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere,S. lepiduswas found to have two generations a year in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Pasture white clover content at the time of peak adult numbers was positively related to the subsequent peak larval populations for each generation. The factors contributing to the emergence ofS. lepidusas one of the most important pasture pests in New Zealand are discussed.

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