Weed Biocontrol WHAT’S NEW?
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ISSUE 73 / AUGUST 2015 Weed Biocontrol WHAT’S NEW? Highlights • TWO NEW WORLD-FIRST AGENTS • WHAT BUGS THE BUGS? • HERB INVASION Privet lace bug Contents NEW WORLD BIOCONTROL CATALOGUE 2 FROM THE EDITOR We have refreshed the look of this newsletter to bring it into line with other Landcare BIOCONTROL AGENTS Research publications, but the content, style and purpose (to keep you updated and RELEASED IN 2014/15 2 informed about weed biocontrol research) remain unchanged. This is the slightly longer issue that we produce each August. Thanks to our many loyal readers who regularly send HERB INVASION IN feedback after each issue. It is always wonderful to receive this and please keep it coming. HAWKE’S BAY 3 If you still receive a hard copy and are ready to make the move to an electronic version, please let me know. Happy reading! Lynley. TWO NEW ‘WORLD-FIRST’ AGENTS READY FOR COMBAT 4 New World Biocontrol Catalogue WHAT’S BUGGING OUR BUGS? 6 SPRING ACTIVITIES 8 The last (4th) version of Julien and Griffi ths’ A World Catalogue of Agents and their Target `WHO’S WHO’ IN BIOLOGICAL Weeds was published in 1998. For many years this was the go-to place to fi nd out what CONTROL OF WEEDS? 10 weed biocontrol agents have been released around the world and how successful they have been, but had become seriously out of date. Recently an international team of FURTHER READING 12 researchers, led by Rachel Winston, has undertaken a major revision and expansion of this catalogue, which now includes 224 weeds and 552 agents. This was a huge task to which Landcare Research contributed updated information about weed biocontrol agents in New Zealand. A full online version of the catalogue is available from www.ibiocontrol.org/ Key contacts catalog/ and includes querying capabilities to allow for sorting by key pieces of information, such as by weed or by agent and by bioherbicide. Clicking on individual releases will bring EDITOR: Lynley Hayes you to the full information available, along with supporting references. It is hoped that a Any enquiries to Lynley Hayes mechanism can be found to allow the catalogue to be kept up to date from now on. A [email protected] shorter print version (current through 2012) has also been prepared and a pdf of this is available on the website. THANKS TO: Leah Kearns Funding for both the print and online versions of the catalogue was provided by the United LAYOUT: Nicolette Faville States Forest Service (Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team). Work was conducted by MIA Consulting, the University of Georgia, the Queensland Department of Agriculture, CONTRIBUTIONS: Alison Evans Fisheries & Forestry, the University of Idaho, and the Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International. CONTACT: Rachel Winston [email protected] BIOCONTROL AGENTS RELEASED IN 2014/15 Species Releases made Broom gall mite (Aceria genistae)81 This information may be copied and distributed Darwin’s barberry seed weevil (Berberidicola exeratus)1 to others without limitations, provided Landcare Green thistle beetle (Cassida rubignosa)5 Research New Zealand Ltd 2015 and the source of the information is acknowledged. Under no Lantana blister rust (Puccinia lantanae)2 circumstances may a charge be made for this Lantana leaf rust (Prospodium tuberculatum)7 information without the express permission of Tradescantia leaf beetle (Neolema ogloblini)13 Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd 2014 Tradescantia stem beetle (Lema basicostata)5 ISSN 2463-2961 (Print) ISSN 2463-297X (Online) Tradescantia tip beetle (Neolema abbreviata)2 www.landcareresearch.co.nz Woolly nightshade lace bug (Gargaphia decoris)9 Total 125 2 Herb Invasion in Hawke’s Bay Lesser calamint (Calamintha nepeta) is now a target on Landcare Research’s weed radar. Overseas, this aromatic plant is grown for its medicinal properties and as a culinary herb. A member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and native to Europe, North Africa, Western Asia and the Caucasus, lesser calamint has become naturalised in the United States and New Zealand. It was fi rst Darin Underhill recorded here in the early 1900s and is known to be present Lesser calamint growing wild and unwanted in Hawke’s Bay in Gisborne, Whanganui, Levin and Nelson, but is primarily a are declining, and the other two (both non-endemic) species problem so far only in Hawke’s Bay, where there are serious are not threatened. A biocontrol programme would also have to infestations on over 100 farms. make sure that widely used culinary herbs in the mint family are not harmed by potential agents; however, these are suffi ciently Lesser calamint produces fi ne, upright stems that are covered distantly related to lesser calamint that it would be expected that with small, shiny, green oregano-like leaves, forming a compact agents could be found that would not harm them. mound 30 to 50 cm tall and twice as wide. In late summer, a cloud of minute pale lavender fl owers are produced that bloom for up to No detailed surveys of the natural enemies of lesser calamint 6 weeks and produce many seeds. As the days become cooler, have been undertaken, and would be needed if a biocontrol the colour of the blossoms deepens. The plant can become project was to proceed. Six species of arthropods and three dormant in the winter months, and then blossom again in spring. species of pathogens have been recorded from lesser calamint. Lesser calamint smells like a cross between mint and oregano Information about the host specifi city and damage caused by and attracts honeybees and butterfl ies. these natural enemies is lacking, but most of them appear to warrant further study. Darin Underhill from the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council reports that lesser calamint is diffi cult to control with herbicides and is The feasibility study recommended that the next step should not palatable to stock so it can quickly outcompete pasture be to conduct a cost-benefi t analysis to see if investment in a plants. “I have been observing this plant spreading for the past biocontrol programme would be warranted for a weed of such 7 or 8 years but because it is small, doesn’t have prickles and limited current distribution, but which potentially has much isn’t poisonous, it hasn’t come to the attention of many people,” more serious impacts. This would consider future weed spread Darin added. However, the plant is already having an economic scenarios and the economic impact on the small number of impact on badly infested properties. businesses growing the plant for its medicinal properties. No other countries have attempted biocontrol of this plant and so a The Hawke’s Bay Regional Council recently asked Landcare project would have to start from scratch, which adds signifi cantly Research to explore the feasibility of biocontrol for this plant. to the development costs, likely to be around the $2M mark. “Biocontrol is probably the only remaining option for this plant,” said Ronny Groenteman, who led the study. “Lesser calamint Ronny was pleased to be involved with such a proactive project. has the potential to become a much more serious weed in New “For years we have advocated the benefi ts of controlling plants Zealand because of its tolerance range,” explained Ronny. In its that are in the early stages of invasion (sleeper weeds) rather than native range lesser calamint is valued for its ability to grow in leaving them until they become widespread.” Darin agrees and dry, disturbed, low-fertility soils with low organic matter. It prefers said that he wouldn’t be surprised if other regions with similar well-drained, dry to moist, neutral to alkaline soil, and a warm climate and terrain to Hawke’s Bay are also quietly being invaded sunny site, but can withstand temperatures down to -15°C, as by lesser calamint but just haven’t noticed it yet. well as drought, and full sun to part-shade. This project was funded by an Envirolink grant to the Hawke’s The feasibility study predicts that, in terms of likelihood of Bay Regional Council (1538-HBRC205). biocontrol success, lesser calamint would be an intermediate target. The lack of close relatives to lesser calamint in the New CONTACT: Ronny Groenteman Zealand fl ora increases the likelihood of fi nding agents that [email protected] are suffi ciently host specifi c. New Zealand has fi ve indigenous plant species in the Lamiaceae family, one (which is endemic) is considered threatened, two (one endemic and one non-endemic) 3 Two New ‘World-First’ Agents Ready for Combat Two new biocontrol agents have recently been approved not intensively managed such as along roadsides and railway for release: the privet lace bug (Leptoypha hospita) and the lines or in hedgerows. Tolerant of a range of growing conditions, Japanese honeysuckle stem beetle (Oberea shirahatai). The privet grows equally well in dry stony ground and the heavier soils Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) granted approval to found around the Waikato. The leaves and dark purple berries release the privet lace bug in May, with Waikato Regional Council are poisonous to humans and other animals. Many people, as the applicant on behalf of the National Biocontrol Collective. especially in urban areas, believe that privet is responsible for This is the fi rst agent to be used against Chinese privet (Ligustrum allergic reactions, but the evidence for this is a bit controversial. sinense) both in New Zealand and worldwide. Possibly the perfume rather than the pollen is an irritant for these people. The berries are attractive to birds, which are great at Only two of the four privet species naturalised in New Zealand, spreading the seed around to new places.