Staff Assessment Report APP202396: to release the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle May 2015 Purpose An application to introduce the honeysuckle stem borer (Oberea shirahatai) as a biocontrol agent for the weed Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) Application number APP202396 Application type To obtain approval to release new organisms Applicant Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Date formally received 17 February 2015 2 EPA advice for application APP202396 Executive Summary and Recommendation In February 2015, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council made an application to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) seeking to introduce the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle (Oberea shirahatai) as a biological control agent for the weed Japanese honeysuckle (Loncera japonica). We examined the beneficial and adverse effects to the environment and market economy in addition to the effects on Māori and their relationship to the environment in our assessment of the application. The applicant presented evidence to show that the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle will not attack native species based on taxonomic analysis, and will not preferentially feed and successfully complete life cycles on ornamental and valued exotic honeysuckle species in host range testing. We consider that the introduction of the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle will not have any adverse effects on native species or on plant species that are valuable to the nursery and garden industry in New Zealand. We note that reductions in vegetative mass of the weed, due to the activity of the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle, will lead to the re-establishment of native populations and ecological processes, and suppress the spread of Japanese honeysuckle. As a result, we note that it is likely that control of Japanese honeysuckle will lead to improved biodiversity and conservation values. We considered that the benefits that may follow the introduction of the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle will outweigh any identified risks and costs. We also considered that the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle meets the minimum standards set out in section 36 of the Hazardous Substance New Organisms (HSNO) Act. We recommend that the application be approved. May 2015 3 EPA advice for application APP202396 Table of Contents Executive Summary and Recommendation .......................................................................................... 2 Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Purpose of this document ............................................................................................................ 4 2. Application process ..................................................................................................................... 4 3. Submissions ................................................................................................................................ 4 4. Submissions from DOC and MPI ................................................................................................ 4 5. Japanese honeysuckle as the target weed ................................................................................. 5 6. Organism description................................................................................................................... 7 7. Risk assessment ......................................................................................................................... 8 8. Assessment of benefits and positive effects ............................................................................... 8 9. Potential risks to non-target organisms ..................................................................................... 13 10. Conclusion on benefits and risks assessment .......................................................................... 23 11. Relationship of Māori to the environment .................................................................................. 24 12. Minimum Standards................................................................................................................... 26 Conclusion on the minimum standards ............................................................................................... 27 13. Can honeysuckle stem-boring beetle establish undesirable self-sustaining populations? ....... 27 14. Recommendation ...................................................................................................................... 27 15. References ................................................................................................................................ 28 Appendix 1: Summary of submissions ................................................................................................ 32 Appendix 2: Submission from Department of Conservation ................................................................ 34 May 2015 4 EPA advice for application APP202396 1. Purpose of this document 1.1. On 17 February 2015, Hawke’s Bay Regional Council applied to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to introduce the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle (Oberea shirahatai) as a biological control agent (BCA) for the weed Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica). 1.2. This document has been prepared by EPA staff to advise the Decision-making Committee on our risk assessment for the release of the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle. The document discusses the information provided in the application and information readily available in scientific literature. 2. Application process 2.1. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council lodged an application with the EPA seeking approval to release the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle under section 34 of the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (HSNO) Act (the Act). 2.2. The application was publicly notified, and open for submissions for 30 working days as required by section 53(1)(b) of the Act. 3. Submissions 3.1. The EPA received submissions from Ngāi Tahu, Greater Wellington Regional Council, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Clinton Care, Northland Regional Council, Nursery and Garden Industry Association of New Zealand, Cliff Mason, Otago Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council. The submissions are summarised in Appendix 1. All submitters supported the release of the honeysuckle stem-boring beetle to control Japanese honeysuckle infestations in New Zealand, except for Cliff Mason and Clinton Care who opposed the application. 4. Submissions from DOC and MPI 4.1. As required by the Act and the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms (Methodology) Order 1998, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Department of Conservation (DOC) were notified of the application and provided with the opportunity to comment. 4.2. MPI did not make any comments on the application. 4.3. DOC supports the application to introduce honeysuckle stem-boring beetle to control Japanese honeysuckle in New Zealand. David Havell (Technical Advisor) submitted that Japanese honeysuckle has a significant impact on wetlands, forest margins and low growing vegetation and that extensive areas of roadside vegetation in the Waikato, Auckland and Northland are covered by the weed which smothers trees such as kahikatea and rimu, shrubs, and grassland. Mr Havell noted that the weed is the subject of eradication projects in the West Coast, Southland and Rangitoto Island, and control programmes in the Hawke’s Bay, Northland and Manawatu-Horowhenua regions. Control programmes are presently constrained by the lack of suitable herbicides to avoid non-target damage, Japanese May 2015 5 EPA advice for application APP202396 honeysuckle being resistant to management methods and ongoing dispersal from adjacent unmanaged areas, and costs. DOC’s full submission is provided in Appendix 2. 5. Japanese honeysuckle as the target weed Japanese honeysuckle is a perennial climbing woody vine that has competently invaded territories outside of its native range 5.1. Taxonomic description: Order: Dipsacales Family: Caprifoliaceae Genus: Lonicera Species: japonica Thunb. Common name: Japanese honeysuckle, also known as Chinese honeysuckle 5.2. Japanese honeysuckle was introduced outside of Asia in the early 19th century and is now invasive to varying degrees in North America, Europe, South Africa, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand (Schierenbeck 2004, Larson, Catling et al. 2007). 5.3. In the USA, Japanese honeysuckle is present in 42 states and has become a pest in drier parts of the country where there is irrigation. It is well established along riparian corridors and human-made waterways throughout the western states, including California, Oregon and Texas (Schierenbeck 2004). 5.4. The Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry (US Forest Service) lists Japanese honeysuckle as an invasive plant species throughout the Pacific (United Sates Forest Service 2011). Weed risk assessment modelling indicated that Japanese honeysuckle poses a ‘high risk’ of becoming a serious pest on the islands of Hawaii. Japanese honeysuckle is a weed widespread in New Zealand 5.5. Japanese honeysuckle was first reported as escaped from cultivation in New Zealand in 1926 (Schierenbeck 2004). It is now widespread throughout the North Island and northern end of the South Island. During a survey in 1997 of North Island areas where Japanese honeysuckle was present, and from follow-up observations in the two years following the survey, it was noted that Japanese honeysuckle is “very abundant”