An Application to Import and Release Two Parasitoids to Control German and Common Wasps
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APP203875: An application to import and release two parasitoids to control German and common wasps. December 2020 The application Tasman District Council lodged an application with the EPA on 14 September 2020 seeking approval to release Metoecus paradoxus and Volucella inanis, as biological control agents for the social wasp, Vespula germanica and V. Vulgaris. The application was publicly notified: - 25 support, - 2 neither supported nor opposed, and - 3 opposed the application. 2 The biocontrol agents Metoecus paradoxus Volucella inanis Wasp-nest beetle Hoverfly Photo by B. Brown Photo by B. Brown . Target mainly Vespula vulgaris . Target species in the subfamilies Vespinae . Adults short lived and do not feed . Adults feed on pollen . Female lays several hundred eggs . Female lays 300-660 eggs . 1 wasp larva per beetle . 2 wasp larvae per hoverfly . Lack of host selection from the larvae 3 The target hosts Vespula vulgaris Vespula germanica Common wasp German wasp • Accidentally introduced • Widespread and thrive in New Zealand 4 • Highest concentration of social wasp Host specificity Host range testing . Volucella inanis does not target bumblebees Phylogeny Order Suborder Infraorder Superfamily Parasitica Chrysidoidea (cuckoo wasps and allies) ‘Parasitic wasps’ Vespoidea (potter, paper, and other wasps) Symphyta Sierolomorphoidea Tiphioidea Aculeata Hymenoptera Apocrita Thynnoidea ‘Stinging wasps’ Pompiloidea (spider wasps) Scolioidea (scoliid wasps and allies) Formicoidea (ants) 5 Apoidea (speciform wasps, bumblebees and bees) Host specificity Behaviour: social versus solitary . No native social bees or wasps (except native ants) . Valued exotic social species not targeted Life cycle . Similar to honeybees and bumblebees . Different to native solitary species . Obstacles for the BCAs: - Small size - Nest entrance size - No comb Photo by J. W. Early - Sealed chamber 6 Host specificity Nesting . Native and valued exotic species do not use plant/wood material . Some bumblebees nest in decaying wood Mimicry of the BCAs . Wasp-nest beetle produces a similar chemical signature to V. vulgaris . Hoverfly uses visual and chemical mimicry V. inanis and M. paradoxus are unlikely to target species outside the family Vespidae. 7 Risk/Benefits assessment We assessed the risks and benefits of bringing the two BCAs into New Zealand, assuming their successful establishment. We assessed the risks and benefits to: . the environment, . market economy, . public health, . people and communities, and . Māori and their relationship with the environment. 8 Benefits Environment Improve biodiversity: . Reduce wasp impact: - Wasps collect 12,000 to 75,000 prey/ha/season - No insect is spared - Remove 90% of the honeydew Birds Soil communities . Reach hidden populations and reduce re-infestations Photo from Stuff 9 Benefits Environment Reduce chemical usage: . Pesticides . Fertilisers Photo from DairyNZ The level of benefits on the environment would be medium to high with the re- emergence of native biodiversity and the decrease of chemical usage. 10 Benefits Economy Apiculture: Social Wasps . Limit the cost of honeybee colony loss $4m per year Increase food Feed on Predation competition honey on bees . Potential reduction in chemical costs cost $5 per hive/year . Improve productivity Decrease honey More bees to gain $2.7m per year production protect the hive Less pollination 11 Benefits Economy Agriculture: . Reduce cost of pollination ($80-$400 per hive) . Decrease fertiliser usage (avoid a $33.8m cost) . Decrease clover oversowing (avoid a $28.2m cost) . Reduce disruption of horticultural/forestry activities . Reduce crop damages in autumn (grapes, apples, pears) 12 Benefits Economy Tourism: . Modify or even cancel outdoor activities. The level of benefit in the market economy would be low to medium depending on the region and the level of wasp infestation. 13 Benefits Public health . Reduce the risk of being stung . Reduce the number of traffic accidents The level of benefits from the successful control of wasps for an anaphylactic person would be significant, whereas, the overall benefits to public health would be low. People and communities . Make some tramping tracks more attractive (more birds) . Improve recreational activities (hunting, fishing, camping, tramping, gardening) The level of benefits on the community would be medium at the local level and low at the national level. 14 Risks Environment Increase the use of pesticides for gardeners . Social wasp eliminate other pests Replace by a worse pest . Hypothetical Impact on non target species: . Host specificity 15 Risks Environment Effects on food webs: . Decrease of wasps . Increase of prey . Add competition for nectar . Increase of pests species Hybridisation . No native or valued exotic species in the Metoecus or Volucella genus The level of risks on the environment are expected to be negligible to low. 16 Risks Economy Decrease pesticide sales Decrease of revenue for pest control companies The level of risks on New Zealand’s market economy is assessed to be low. Public health BCAs are harmless The level of risks on public health from the release of the two BCAs is assessed to be negligible. 17 Potential outcomes Conclusion B Environment Medium - high e n Economy Low - medium e f Public health Low (community) - significant (individual) i t People and community s Low - medium R Environment Negligible - low I s Economy Low k Summary of our assessment our of Summary s Public health Negligible Māori and their relationship with the environment Kaupāpa Kura Taiao concluded that the release is likely to benefit the ability and capacity of Māori to maintain their economic, social, and cultural well-being, as well as their culture and traditions with their environment and taonga. Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu support the release of V. inanis and M. paradoxus subject to long term monitoring. 19 Minimum standards We assessed the release of M. paradoxus and V. inanis against the minimum standards in the HSNO Act. Our assessment concludes that the biocontrol agents meet the minimum standards. Recommendation Our assessment has found that the benefits of releasing M. paradoxus and V. inanis outweigh any identified risks or costs. We therefore recommend that the application be approved. 20 For more information contact: General enquiries Phone +64 4 916 2426 Fax +64 4 914 0433 [email protected].