ER-AN-O2N-2 Import into containment any new organism that is not 01/08 genetically modified

Application title: Importation into containment of Heringia calcarata, an biological control agent for woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum), for host-specificity testing.

Applicant organisation: Pipfruit New Zealand

Please provide a brief summary of the purpose of the application (255 characters or less, including spaces)

To import Heringia calcarata, a biological control agent of woolly apple aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum), into containment for breeding and host specificity testing experiments.

PLEASE CONTACT ERMA NEW ZEALAND BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

Please clearly identify any confidential information and attach as a separate appendix.

Please check and complete the following before submitting your application:

All sections completed Yes Appendices enclosed NA Confidential information identified and enclosed separately NA Copies of references attached Yes Application signed and dated Yes Electronic copy of application e-mailed to Yes ERMA New Zealand

Signed: Date:

20 Customhouse Quay Cnr Waring Taylor and Customhouse Quay PO Box 131, Wellington Phone: 04 916 2426 Fax: 04 914 0433 Email: [email protected] Website: www.ermanz.govt.nz

ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified

Section One – Applicant details Name and details of the organisation making the application: Name: Pipfruit New Zealand (Attn. Dr. M.R. Butcher) Postal Address: PO Box 11094 Hastings 4158 New Zealand

Physical Address: 207 St Aubyn Street West, Hastings 4122 Phone: +64 6 8737086 (DDI); +64 6 873 7080 (office); mob: +64 21 406018 Fax: +64 6 873 7089 Email: [email protected] Name and details of the key contact person (if different from above): Name: John Charles Postal Address: The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited Private Bag 92169, Auckland Mail Centre, 1142, Auckland, New Zealand Physical Address: 120 Mt Albert Rd, Sandringham, Auckland Phone: 09 925 7285 Fax: 09 925 7001 Email: [email protected] Name and details of a contact person in New Zealand, if the applicant is overseas: Name: Pipfruit New Zealand (Attn.Mr. Gary Jones) Postal Address: PO Box 11094 Hastings 4158 New Zealand Physical Address: 207 St Aubyn Street West, Hastings 4122 Phone: +64 6 8737085 (DDI) mob: +64 21 758314 Fax: +64 6 873 7089 Email: [email protected]

Note: The key contact person should have sufficient knowledge of the application to respond to queries from ERMA New Zealand staff.

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Section 2: Purpose of the application

Lay summary of the application (approximately 200 words)

Note: This summary should include a description of the organism(s), the purpose of the application or what you want to do with the organisms(s).

Use simple non-technical language We propose to import Heringia calcarata into containment. This insect is a and a specialist natural enemy of woolly apple aphid. Woolly apple aphid (WAA) is currently one of the most serious pests of apple trees in New Zealand. Feeding by the aphid causes stem splitting, early defoliation and galls on roots that reduce water and nutrient uptake and reduce tree vigour and yield. Heavy infestations over time will kill mature trees. WAA also produces copious quantities of honeydew that form a substrate for black sootymould fungi that discolour fruit and significantly downgrade their value. There are no effective insecticides against WAA for New Zealand’s apple growers and presence of the aphid in fruit consignments has significant phytosanitary consequences in some of New Zealand’s major export markets. Both WAA and the H. calcarata hoverfly are native to Eastern States of North America, where the predator is seen as an important biological control agent of WAA in apple orchards. We plan to establish a breeding colony in containment, and then to acquire essential knowledge of its host specificity and potential host range in New Zealand to support an application for release. Our eventual goal is to deploy the predator as part of a self-sustaining biocontrol programme for WAA in New Zealand.

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Describe the background and aims of the project

Note: This section is intended to put the organism(s) in perspective of the wider project(s) that they will be used in. You may use more technical language but please make sure that any technical words are included in the Glossary.

The woolly apple aphid Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (WAA) is a cosmopolitan pest of apples. It is currently one of the most serious pests of apple trees in New Zealand, where feeding causes stem splitting, early defoliation and galls on roots that reduce water and nutrient uptake and reduce tree vigour and yield. Heavy infestations over time can severely debilitate mature trees. WAA also produces copious quantities of honeydew that form a substrate for black sootymould fungi that discolour fruit and significantly downgrade their export value. Presence of the aphid in fruit can result in fumigation of export consignments and has wider potential phytosanitary consequences for New Zealand apples in developing Asian markets e.g. China and Taiwan. Fortunately, WAA is not known to transmit any viruses or other pathogenic diseases of apples. WAA is probably native to eastern N. America, where the primary host was American Elm, Ulmus americana L. WAA established readily on apple trees when they were introduced to N. America, and has since lost its reliance on American Elm trees. The aphid now reproduces parthenogenetically on apples in both America and around the world. Winged forms are often produced, but these are effectively non-functional (they either do not lay eggs, or the eggs do not survive) meaning that the aphid lives all year round on apples. It was accidentally introduced to New Zealand in the early days of European colonisation (Walker 1989, Charles 1998). Apple trees are usually infested simultaneously with arboreal and edaphic (soil living) colonies of WAA. Arboreal colonies feed in leaf axils and physical scars and pruning wounds on branches and trunks of apple trees, whereas edaphic colonies feed below ground on roots. For many years the primary tactic for reducing edaphic populations of WAA was the use of resistant rootstocks - initially the variety ‘Northern Spy’, and then the Malling-Merton (MM) series. However, for other crop management reasons, most new apple orchards are now planted on clonal, ‘dwarfing’ rootstocks that are not resistant to WAA. Arboreal populations are not controlled by native natural enemies in New Zealand. Two native lacewings will eat some aphids, but they, in turn, are attacked by a native parasitoid, and are not effective. The exotic parasitoid Aphelinus mali Haldeman (Hym. Aphelinidae) was introduced into New Zealand from the USA in 1921. Mass releases over the next few years led to its establishment and widespread control of WAA (Walker 1989). Over the past few years the removal of broad spectrum pesticides has increased the potential effectiveness of A. mali, but the loss of aphicides and the increasing use of tolerant rootstocks has increased growers’ reliance on this parasitoid. The result has been increased pressure from WAA, accompanied by increasing ecological instability because control is now based on A. mali alone. The introduction to New Zealand of specialist aphid predators was mooted 20 years ago (Walker 1989), and additional research on biocontrol of WAA was recommended by a US Environmental Protection Agency Workshop in 1999.

Recent studies in the USA have shown that Heringia calcarata (Loew) (Diptera: Syrphidae) is a specialised predator of WAA in Virginian apple systems, and is very active against WAA living on apple roots in the soil (Short & Bergh 2004). The initial studies indicate that this syrphid has considerable potential as a WAA biocontrol agent in

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New Zealand. Ecological studies in the USA indicate that it does not attack other closely related aphids in orchards there (and is unlikely to do so in New Zealand), but further literature and experimental studies are required to estimate the risk that it may pose to native aphids in New Zealand.

As a result of the USA studies, which highlight its impact on edaphic populations of WAA and its high level of host specificity, H. calcarata has been targeted for release into New Zealand to assist in the biological control of WAA. An additional biocontrol agent for WAA will complement existing techniques for managing this pest in conventionally managed and organic orchards, and in home gardens throughout the country. A collaborative project has been established between Pipfruit New Zealand, New Zealand researchers at Plant and Food Research and Prof. Chris Bergh at Virginia Tech to investigate the biology and impact of H. calcarata. We seek to import this wasp into containment, where we will first develop techniques to establish a breeding colony, and then acquire essential knowledge of its potential host range in New Zealand to support an application for release. Our eventual goal is to deploy the predator as part of a self-sustaining biocontrol programme for WAA. We expect that it will establish throughout the WAA infested regions of New Zealand.

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Section Three – Identification of the organism(s) to be imported

Complete this section separately for each new organism to be imported.

Identification of the organism to be imported

Latin binomial, including full taxonomic Heringia calcarata (Loew) authority: ♀ ♂

Common name(s), if any: None

Type of organism (eg bacterium, virus, Insect fungus, plant, , animal cell):

Taxonomic class, order and family: Insecta. Diptera: Syrphidae. Tribe:

Strain(s) if relevant: N/A

Other information, including presence of There are no known inseparable or associated any inseparable or associated organisms organisms. H. calcarata is a solitary and any related organisms present in New predatory . Zealand:

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Section Four – The proposed containment system

Describe the containment facility and the proposed containment system (physical and operational)

Question Answer Which MAF/ERMA Standard is All shipments will be housed in the Plant & Food this containment facility Research invertebrate quarantine facility (IQF) at the approved under? Mt Albert Research Centre (MARC) in Auckland. This facility is registered to MAF/ERMA Standard 154.02.08 Transitional and containment facilities for invertebrates. Pursuant to section 40 of the Biosecurity Act 1993 John Charles and Robert Edwards are the registered operator and manager respectively of this quarantine facility. What physical containment level The containment facility conforms to the Standard (AS/NZS 2243: 2002) is this above, and was designed specifically to contain containment facility registered to imported biocontrol agents with minimal risk of escape. (where relevant)? What other physical measures do All will be held in sealed clear plastic boxes or you propose to use to contain this cages within a sealed quarantine room. organism? Larvae: WAA hosts will be provided on shoots or roots of apple seedlings, or, for experimental purposes, in clear glass or plastic containers so that the nutritional ecology of H. calcarata larvae can be studied. Adults: The mobile adult hover will emerge into sealed containers. If an escape of an adult fly is detected within the room, and the escapee(s) cannot be counted and returned to a container, then all remaining boxes will be sealed with sticky tape and removed to another room. The temperature and humidity in the ‘infested room’ will be increased until any escapees are killed. Building Facilities: Entry to the sealed room is only possible via a sealed corridor within the IQF; and the double-door ‘air-lock’ system provides the only access to this corridor. Sticky insect traps are hung from the ceiling in each of these areas, and there is a light trap in the air-lock. If an escaped insect is detected in the corridor then the traps in the ‘air-lock’ and the external laboratory will be inspected, and procedures immediately put in place to determine and mitigate the escape pathway. The ‘airlock’ is the final barrier to the quarantine containment facility, into which only authorised personnel have access.

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What procedural or operational Only authorised personnel, who have been trained in measures do you propose to use invertebrate quarantine protocols, and who are directly to contain this organism? involved with this project have access to the quarantine rooms holding this insect. This is currently planned to be limited to 6 people. Every shipment will be opened in containment and screened for pathogens to minimise or eliminate any risk from unwanted insect diseases. If unwanted pathogens are discovered, the shipment will either be destroyed in an autoclave, or the pathogens eliminated by appropriate techniques. No live material (either predator or host WAA) will leave the IQF building. Any dead or surplus insects, all host and predator food, and all packaging associated with rearing containers will be placed in triple walled paper rubbish bags within the quarantine room. The bags will be tied and taped shut, and then autoclaved within the IQF service laboratory. Re-usable rearing containers will be washed and treated either with alcohol or appropriate disinfectant, as detailed in the IQF Standard. Any other information relevant to It is noted that the containment facility at MARC has the containment of the organism. operated since 1973 with no notifiable incidents or escapes of imported biocontrol agents.

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Describe the characteristics of the organism to be imported that may influence its ability; to escape from containment, to form a self sustaining population, or to cause adverse effects. Refer to sample applications for guidance on how to answer these questions.

Question Answer attach copies of the references used in an appendix What are the characteristics of the 1. H. calcarata is a specialist predator on WAA. Adult organism that may prevent/enable females are attracted to WAA by visual and olfactory it to escape from containment? cues for oviposition. Hence the presence of WAA eg size, spore production, colonies in the same containment area will act as an infectivity, seed/pollen attractant to H. calcarata flies, and limit any dispersal characteristics etc. (or ‘escape’) behaviour. 2. H. calcarata adults are c.9mm long and quite visible to the naked eye. Sexes are easily distinguished by the shape of the eyes. This means that accurate numbers can be allocated to individual rearing containers. 4. Unlike many syrphid flies, the adults of both sexes are mostly black. If they do escape from a rearing container, they are easily seen against the light colour of the IQF walls. How could this organism escape Possible pathways for escape are: from containment? Adult escape from containment facility, ie what are the possible pathways for escape? Escape during transport into the containment facility, How does the proposed containment regime address these Escape from contaminated laboratory equipment, pathways? Escape due to accidental/unintentional or deliberate removal by people, and Escape from the IQF following a natural disaster (e.g. earthquake) or accident (such as flooding or fire). The containment provisions required by MAF/ERMA Standard 154.02.08 require measures to be taken to prevent, manage or mitigate escape via any of these pathways. Adult escape from containment facility. Adults are mobile and are the most independent life stage of H. calcarata. Escape will be prevented by (a) physical containment within a series of boxes (the largest of which is the IQF itself), and (b) strict procedures for handling the insects. Only trained staff will be allowed to handle the insects. Light traps and sticky traps will be in place to catch any unexpected escapees. Escape During transport into the containment facility: All H. calcarata will be imported into New Zealand as immature stages (eggs, larvae and/or pupae). The

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insects will be held inside sealed containers inside a sticky tape sealed polystyrene box inside a sticky tape sealed cardboard box. These three layers of sealed containment, and the immobile insects within, reduce the risk of escape during shipping to extremely low levels. Each shipment of insects to be imported by Plant & Food Research will contain approximately 30 - 200 individuals. Escape from contaminated laboratory equipment: No live material (either syrphid or WAA or plant material) will leave the IQF building. All dead or surplus insects, all host and predator food, and all packaging associated with rearing containers will be placed in triple walled paper rubbish bags within the quarantine room. The bags will be tied and taped shut, and then autoclaved within the IQF service laboratory. Re-usable rearing containers will be washed and treated either with alcohol or appropriate disinfectant, as detailed in the IQF Standard. Accidental or deliberate removal by people: Quarantine procedures for authorised personnel are designed to prevent accidental escape. For example, protective laboratory coats or aprons are worn when appropriate, and are removed before leaving areas with predators to reduce risk of unseen escapees being carried out of the IQF on clothing by laboratory staff. Access to the IQF requires security swipe cards that are issued to only approved quarantine facility users, a register of which is kept at the IQF, so access to, and removal of, insects by unauthorised personnel is unlikely. Escape from containment following natural disaster A fire contingency plan has been lodged with the local fire brigade listing how to deal with a disaster so as to prevent or minimise and chance of escape of insects.

If any predators are detected outside the containment facility, HortResearch will notify ERMANZ, MAF Quarantine Service, and the Department of Conservation; and will consult with MAF, ERMA, and DOC to determine if further control measures to limit and eradicate the establishment and spread of the escaped insects are appropriate. In practice, eradication would require spraying with insecticide or possible removal of host apple trees in the surrounding suburban Auckland region. The blanket spraying of any area using such chemicals would pose a major environmental and health risk. Therefore, limiting or

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eradicating the establishment and spread of escaped insects may prove to be impractical without measures that would be prohibitively expensive, environmentally damaging and politically sensitive.

If it were to escape, could this In the event that one or more mated, adult H. calcarata organism establish a population females did accidentally escape, then a self-sustaining outside of containment in New population could establish. Zealand? Previous host specificity tests from North America ie what conditions are required indicate that H. calcarata is likely to be effectively host for growth and reproduction? And specific to WAA in New Zealand. are those conditions present in Populations of WAA are present on apple trees within New Zealand? What factors might the MARC campus, and are likely to be found in prevent this from occurring? numerous home gardens in the immediate vicinity of the Research Centre. H. calcarata are good flyers, and are likely to efficiently locate any WAA in the immediate vicinity of MARC. Their establishment would then depend on whether there were, in fact, any suitable aphid stages at the time of their escape. The seasonal development of WAA in Auckland means that there are likely to be at least a few suitable stages present throughout the year. If a population did establish could 1. Initial establishment from adult escapees would be it be eradicated? How? expected in urban Auckland apple trees, but the adult Would it be noticed immediately? predator is unlikely to be noticed by home-owners How would such a population be because it has no obviously noticeable features – it will identified? appear to most as just another black fly. Any larvae that established on edaphic WAA populations would be even less noticeable. 2. Eradication of a self-sustaining population would require broad-scale application of insecticide, with the associated risk to human and environmental health. 3. Limiting or eradicating a population of escaped H. calcarata may prove to be impractical. Additional information None

Section Five – Identification and assessment of effects Identify and assess the effects of the organism. Look primarily at the effects if the organism remains in containment, but also consider what might happen if the organism were to escape. If the organism were to escape think about what additional things would need to occur for these effects to be realised.

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What are the beneficial effects of the organism(s) and the application? These benefits must be relevant to the purpose and scope of the application The benefits are:- 1. Improved knowledge and understanding of the biology of H. calcarata and its possible non-target impacts in New Zealand. 2. Skills in the development of insect rearing and managing the biological relationship between WAA and a key natural enemy. 3. Knowledge development to underpin a likely request for release of H. calcarata into New Zealand for improved WAA biocontrol. 4. Action towards strategies of both Pipfruit New Zealand and Plant & Food Research for further reducing pesticide risk in fruit production, improving sustainable pest management and enhancing classical biological control. What adverse effects could this organism have on the environment? For all stages of the life cycle The most likely adverse effect of H. calcarata on New Zealand’s environment, in the unlikely event of its escape from containment, is to attack a native insect. This is considered unlikely because:- One of the criteria for pre-selection of H. calcarata was that it is a specialist predator of WAA. It rarely attacks other common aphids in N. American apple orchards, and cannot complete its development on some species. Its behaviour may limit its host range to wax producing aphid species. There are no native species of aphid within the Pemphigidae in New Zealand. There are no other species of Heringia in New Zealand. It is almost inconceivable that there will be any genetic interaction between Heringia and any other Diptera. It is conceivable that H. calcarata will disrupt existing biocontrol of WAA by competing with the primary parasitoid, Aphelinus mali. The evidence does not support this, as both species co-exist in North America, where WAA numbers are lower than in NZ. What adverse effects could this organism have on public health? For all stages of the life cycle It is highly improbable that H. calcarata would have any adverse effect on human health. It is not listed as a medical problem, and, has never been known to cause injury to humans. In this respect it is similar to the c.100 species of syrphids that already exist in most terrestrial environments in New Zealand (Thompson 2008).

What adverse effects could this organism have on the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, waahi tapu, valued flora and fauna and other taonga (taking into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi)? We foresee no negative effects on the relationship of Maori and their culture, traditions and ancestral lands. If H. calcarata proves to be an effective biological control agent for WAA, then it will be beneficial to the many commercial horticultural ventures in which iwi and Maori have interests. Maori will be consulted before an application is made for H. calcarata to be released into New Zealand.

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Are there any other potential adverse effects (including effects on New Zealand’s international obligations, society and community or the market economy)? None known

Are there any ethical considerations associated with the organism(s) to be imported or the proposed research? None known

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Section Six – Additional information Additional Information Y/N If yes, explain Do any of the organism(s) need Y Insects imported into containment are also approvals under any other New regulated by the Biosecurity Act 1993. As Zealand legislation? part of this process, an import health standard, which ensures screening to eliminate any pathogens or parasitoids, must be adhered to. Does New Zealand have any N international obligations relating to (any of) the organism(s)? Have any of the new organism(s) in N this application previously been considered in New Zealand or elsewhere? What was the outcome? Is there any additional information N that you consider relevant to this application that has not already been included?

Provide a glossary of scientific and technical terms used in the application: None List of appendices: None List of references: Charles JG. 1998. The settlement of fruit crop pests and their natural enemies in New Zealand: an historical guide to the future. Biocontrol News and Information 19: 47N- 58N. Short BD, Bergh, JC. 2004. Feeding and egg distribution studies of Heringia calcarata (Diptera: Syrphidae), a specialized predator of Woolly Apple Aphid (Homoptera: Eriosmatidae) in Virginia apple orchards. Journal of Economic Entomology 97(3): 813- 819. Thompson, FC. 2008. A conspectus of New Zealand flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) with the description of a new genus and species. Zootaxa 1716: 1-20. Walker JTS. 1989. Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) Woolly apple aphid (Homoptera: Pemphigidae) Pp197-199 in Cameron, P.J.; Hill, R.L.; Bain, J.; Thomas, W.P. (eds), A review of biological control of insect pests and weeds in New Zealand 1874 to 1987. Technical Communication, CAB International Institute of Biological Control 10, CAB International, Wallingford, UK.

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