Niue Pest Survey 2001
Niue Pest Survey
Short Term Consultancy - Final Report
E.H.C. McKenzie Landcare Research Private Bag 92170, Auckland New Zealand
W. Liebregts Eco-Consult Pacific PO Box 5406, Raiwaqa, Suva Fiji
B. M. Tairea Ministry of Agriculture PO Box 96, Rarotonga Cook Islands
Landcare Research Contract Report: LC
PREPARED FOR: SPC Plant Protection Service, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji
DATE: July 2001
Niue Pest Survey 2001
© Landcare Research New Zealand Ltd 2001 No part of this work covered by copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, information retrieval systems, or otherwise) without the written permission of the publisher or SPC Plant Protection Service.
Disclaimer The findings in this report are specific to this project. Landcare Research accepts no responsibility where information in the report is used for any other purpose, and will not be liable for any loss or damage suffered as a result of such other use. Niue Pest Survey 2001
Contents
1. Terms of Reference
2. Introduction
3. Previous Pest Records 3.1 Arthropod Pests 3.2 Diseases
4. Present Survey 4.1 Crops Examined 4.2. New Pests and Diseases recorded
5. Most Serious Pests 5.1 Arthropods 5.2 Diseases 5.3 Weeds
6. Database of Pests
7. References
8. Acknowledgments
9. Itinerary
Appendix 1: Arthropod specimens collected for identification. Niue Pest Survey 2001
1. Terms of Reference
The duration of the consultancy is for 10 days. The first part of the consultancy is scheduled in Niue from 8 to 15 October 2000 and the remaining 3 days will be for reviewing databases, literature and report preparation.
(1) The consultant will report to the Plant Protection Adviser, (PPA) Suva, Fiji Islands.
(2) The consultant is to act as a Leader and a plant pathologist of a Team of max. 4 specialists and consisting of at least one entomologist, to implement a pest survey of agricultural and forestry crops in Niue.
(3) To review, assisted by the consultant entomologist, the current pests (arthropods, diseases and weeds) present in Niue which affect agricultural development in Niue, noting also those of major ecological concern.
(4) To update, with assistance from the consultant entomologist, the existing pest lists for relevant crops of Niue. (5) The consultant will prepare the following reports with assistance from other team members: An interim report within 1 month of completing the field mission. A final report detailing the outcomes of the duties assigned numbers 2, 3 and 4 above. The final report should provide a listing of pests and diseases for each host plant as well as a listing in alphabetical order of, respectively, arthropod pests, plant diseases (pathogens, viruses and nematodes, as well as other micro- organisms), and weeds. In addition, the final report should identify the 20 most serious pests (arthropods, diseases and weeds) in the country. A hardcopy of the final report, with submissions from the Ministry of Agriculture and other stakeholders annexed to the report should be submitted no later than 3 month after completion of the field mission. Both the interim and final reports should be submitted as an electronic file to [email protected]
2. Introduction
The previous plant pest survey of Niue was carried out in the mid 1970s, as part of the UNDP/FAO- SPEC Survey of Agricultural Pests and Diseases in the South Pacific Area. The present update survey was initiated following recommendations on surveillance and pest lists made at the Tenth Regional Technical Meeting on Plant Protection, Nadi 1999. The consultants (plant pathologists and entomologists) visited Niue for a week in October 2000 to survey, and assess the current situation with plant pests.
Niue Pest Survey 2001
3. Previous Pest Records
3.1 Arthropod Pests Arthropod pests were sampled by J.S. Dugdale and P.A. Maddison as part of the UNDP/FAO- SPEC Survey of Agricultural Pests and Diseases in the South Pacific Area (Maddison 1989). Although most pests were identified to species in the following years, full publication of the results was never completed, and the identities of many species collected during the survey have yet to be adequately recorded in an accessible format and/or published. Many of the identities of pests collected are summarised in Stout (1982). Further information on records of scarab beetles, scale insects, and noctuid moths were provided by Crosby (1994). De Barro (1997) reported on results of a Pacific-wide whitefly survey and provided new whitefly records for Niue. MAF NZ (unpublished) provided details on pest interceptions on produce originating from Niue between 1993 and May 2000. Furthermore, a report by Manson (1972) on the presence of the mite Rhizoglyphus minutus on taro corms imported into New Zealand from Niue and which has remained unnoticed to date, has now been included in the pest list.
3.2 Diseases Details of holdings of fungal pathogens from Niue, held in the New Zealand Fungal Herbarium, were extracted from the associated Herbarium Database. The specimens on which most of these records are based were collected in 1975. At that time two pathologists (R.A. Fullerton and E.H.C. McKenzie) each made a one-week trip to Niue as part of the UNDP/FAO- SPEC Survey of Agricultural Pests and Diseases in the South Pacific Area. The 1975 records were published in Dingley et al. (1981). Similarly, records of plant viruses were extracted from the UNDP/FAO-SPEC Survey (Mossop & Fry, 1984). There appear to be no further published records of fungal plant diseases since 1981, and the only additional record of plant viruses is of two vanilla viruses (Pearson et al., 1993).
4. Present Survey
4.1 Crops Examined The consultants visited as many areas of Niue as possible to survey for pests and diseases of agricultural crops. It was decided to concentrate mainly on those crops listed by Stout (1982). The following species were examined, but in many cases only a few plants were seen (marked with an asterisk *). For example, only one short row of young peanuts was seen, and a few scattered plants of maize.
Arrowroot (Tacca leontopetaloides) *Avocado (Persea americana) Banana (Musa spp.) *Beetroot/silver beet (Beta vulgaris) *Bele (Abelmoschus manihot) Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis) *English cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) *Capsicum (Capsicum annuum) Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Citrus (Citrus spp.) Niue Pest Survey 2001
Coconut (Cocos nucifera) Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) *Eggplant (Solanum melongena) *Kava (Piper methysticum) *Maize (Zea mays) Mango (Mangifera indica) Nonu (Morinda citrifolia) *Onion (Allium cepa) Orchid (Orchidaceae) Pandanus (Pandanus spp.) Papaya (Carica papaya) *Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) Taro (Colocasia esculenta) *Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos) *Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) Vanilla (Vanilla spp.) Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) *Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo)
Insect samples were collected from most of the crops listed above. Ant species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were collected from crops and from the Huvalu Rainforest Reserve. Where appropriate, insect specimens were reared under ambient temperatures for development to adult stage to facilitate pest identification. Where time was not sufficient to obtain pest specimens for identification to species, samples were left behind for further incubation and development into adults under supervision by DAFF staff, and arrangements made for their shipment to New Zealand. Specimens were labeled and preserved in vials with 80% ethanol, or stored dry. Specimens were hand delivered for identification to Dr Peter Maddison, Auckland, New Zealand. Photographs were made of pest specimens and typical damage symptoms. Approximately 100 disease specimens were collected. However, many of these were additional collections of the same diseases collected in 1975, or were on non-targeted host species. The dried specimens were taken to Landcare Research NZ laboratories, Mt Albert for identification. Some cultures were isolated from diseased plants, and these were sent to CABI, UK. for identification. Suspected virus infection in cucurbits and vanilla were sent to experts in Australia and New Zealand for confirmation and identification. An unidentified pest B possibly a disease or a nutritional disorder B was found causing severe damage to most trees in a mahogany plantation near the airport in Alofi. Trees suffered serious dieback of young shoots including the apex (?), resulting in the trees producing more branches, reducing the quality of the timber. Leaves were found to become necrotic at the leaf edges going towards the centre. No symptoms suggestive of insect damage, or any sporulating structures of fungi were observed by the team. The symptoms were observed only at the end of the survey, and there was no time to attempt isolation of any pathogenic fungi.
Pests and diseases collected during the survey that could not be identified in the field and were sent for identification are shown in Appendix 1. 4.2. New Pests and Diseases recorded Niue Pest Survey 2001
Arthropod Pests
Pest Scientific Name Host Plant Remarks
Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Carica papaya Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Trioza (=Megatriza) concava Planchonella sp. New record for Niue; new record of host plant Earias vitella Abelmoschus manihot Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Stomphastis sp. Macaranga seemannii First host record Tetranychus neocalidonicus Pueraria lobata(?) New record for Niue
Diseases
Pest Scientific Name Host Plant Remarks
Cercospora duddiae Allium fistulosum Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Uromyces bidenticola Bidens pilosa New record for Niue Cercospora brassicicola Brassica chinensis Agricultural pest - new host for Niue Puccinia thaliae Canna indica New record for Niue Asperisporium caricae Carica papaya Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Graphiola cocoina Cocos nucifera Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Phakopsora tecta Commelina diffusa New record for Niue Oidium sp. Cucurbita pepo var. melopepo Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Puccinia duthiae Dicanthium annulatum New record for Niue Phoma sp. Dioscorea bulbifera New record for Niue Leveillula taurica Euphorbia hirta New record for Niue Periconia manihoticola Manihot esculenta Agricultural pest - new record for Niue Cladosporium sp. Nerium oleander First host record Pestalotiopsis sp. Pandanus sp. First host record Magnaporthe grisea Pennisetum sp. First host record Uredo sp. Pennisetum sp. New record for Niue Sphaerotheca fuligena Physalis angulata First host record Pest Scientific Name Host Plant Remarks Niue Pest Survey 2001
Coleosporium plumeriae Plumeria rubra New record for Niue Mycosphaerella rosigena Rosa sp. New record for Niue Bipolaris sorghicola Sorghum bicolor New record for Niue Puccinia purpurea Sorghum bicolor New record for Niue Alternaria sp. Stachytarpheta urticifolia First host record Corynespora cassiicola Stachytarpheta urticifolia First host record Phoma sp. Stachytarpheta urticifolia First host record Verticillium sp. Stachytarpheta urticifolia New record for Niue Glomerella cingulata Swietenia macrophylla First host record Uromyces tairae Tournefortia argentea New record for Niue
5. Most Serious Pests Criteria to determine the most serious pests to agriculture and to the environment in Niue can vary considerably and affect their identification. Most commonly a pest's status is determined using data on its current or recent socio-economical impact on agricultural production, which is compared to similar data from other pests. However, one may also consider the potential impact on agricultural production if a pest is left unchecked. The latter is particularly important for some of the weeds, which have a localised distribution on Niue, but are likely to become widespread in the coming years if no action is taken soon to eradicate or contain them. The consultants have carefully taken both criteria into account, and concluded that the following organisms could be classified as the most serious pests, diseases and weeds in Niue. Of course this list may change as crop priorities change.
5.1 Arthropods . Aphid (Aphis gossypii) on kava (Piper methysticum) and taro (Colocasia esculenta). . Caterpillar complex on brassicas (Brassica spp.). . Leaf miner (Ophiomya phaseoli (Tryon) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on bele (Abelmoschus manihot). . Leaf miner (indeterminate) on citrus (Citrus spp.). . Leaf miner (indeterminate) on nonu (Morinda citrifolia). . Mealy bug (Icerya seychellarum) on banana (Musa spp.) and breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis). . Mealy bug (Paraputo leveri) on taro (Colocasia esculenta). . Pumpkin beetle (Aulacophora sp.) on cucurbits. . 28-spotted ladybird beetle (Epilachna sp.) on solanaceae / cucurbits.
5.2 Diseases Black leaf streak (Mycosphaerella fijiensis) on banana (Musa spp.). Dieback (Cucumber mosaic virus) on kava (Piper methysticum). Leaf mould (Fulvia fulva) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Powdery mildew (Oidium sp.) on cucurbits. Root knot nematodes (Meliodogyne spp.) on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). 5.3 Weeds Niue Pest Survey 2001
(Further information on these weeds in Niue may be obtained from the World Wide Web at
6. Database of Pests Details of all pests collected and identified during the current survey, as well as those previously known from Niue, have been entered into two Access databases. There is a separate database for arthropods and for pathogens. The databases have been supplied in an electronic form. In addition, there is a print out of the databases (Appendix 1). The electronic databases can be accessed by either host plant name (scientific or common) or by pest name.
7. References
Crosby, T.K. 1994: Distribution of some insect families in the tropical South Pacific region: 1. Scarab beetles; 2. Scale insects; 3. Noctuid moths. Landcare Research, Auckland, New Zealand. De Barro, P. 1997: Survey of Bemisia tabaci Biotype B Whitefly (also known as B. argentifolii) and its natural enemies in the South Pacific. Final Report ACIAR project No. 96/148, ACIAR, Canberra, Australia. 22 p. Dingley, J.M.; Fullerton, R.A.; McKenzie, E.H.C. 1981: Records of fungi, bacteria, algae, and angiosperms pathogenic on plants in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, and Western Samoa. UNDP/FAO, Rome. Maddison, P.A. 1989: General introduction and account of the entomological survey. UNDP /FAO-SPEC Survey of Agricultural Pests and Diseases in the South Pacific. Technical Report, Vol 1. 113 p. Manson, D.C.M. 1972. A contribution to the study of the genus Rhizoglyphus Claparede, 1869 (Acarina:Acaridae). Acarologia XIII, fasc. 4. Mossop, D.W.; Fry, P.R. 1984: Records of viruses pathogenic on plants in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Niue, Tonga, and Western Samoa. UNDP/FAO, Rome. Pearson, M.N.; Jackson, G.V.H.; Pone, S.P.; Howitt, R.L.J. 1993: Vanilla viruses in the South Pacific. Plant Pathology 42: 127B131. Stout, O.O. 1982: Plant quarantine guidelines for movement of selected commodities in the Pacific. UNDP/FAO-SPEC Survey of Agricultural Pests and Diseases in the South Pacific.
8. Acknowledgments Niue Pest Survey 2001
We are very grateful for the help and kindness shown to us by many people. In particular, we wish to thank Sauni Tongatule (Director), Colin Etuate, Crispina Konelio-Fakanaiki, and Ernest Nemaia, all of the Niue Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
9. Itinerary
Fiji - Auckland, Sunday 8 October (Liebregts) Cook Islands - Auckland, Saturday 7 October (Tairea) (arrived Sunday 8 October)
Auckland - Niue, Monday 9 October (all team members) (arrived Sunday 8 October) Niue - Auckland, Sunday 15 October (all team members) (arrived Monday 16 October)
Auckland - Fiji, Wednesday 18 October (Liebregts) Auckland - Cook Islands, Friday 20 October (Tairea)
The Consultants were also accompanied by J. Wright, Plant Pathologist, SPC, Suva. Niue Pest Survey 2001
APPENDIX 1: ARTHROPOD SPECIMENS COLLECTED FOR IDENTIFICATION All species identified by Dr. Peter Maddison, Field Studies, New Zealand, except where indicated HOMOPTERA (Aphids, whiteflies, scale insects, mealybugs, plant and leafhoppers etc.) Psyllidae (Psyllids, Jumping Plant Lice) Trioza (=Megatriza) concava Tuthill; on Planchonella sp., Lemaga, Niue, 10.10.2000 Confirmed by Pam Dale - new for Niue (described from Fiji). First record of host plant.
Delphacidae (Planthoppers) Peregrinus maidis (Ashmead); on leaf axil of Zea mays (corn) Lemaga, Niue, 10.10.2000
Aphididae (Aphids) Aphis gossypii Glover ex Glochidion ramiflorum Forst.f. ('Kahame'), Hinapoto, Niue, 12.10.2000
Pseudococcidae (Mealybugs) Pseudococcus jackbeardsleyi Gimpel & Miller. ex Carica papaya, Alofi, 12.10.2000 This is a new record for Niue. Laminicoccus pandani (Cockerell) on Pandanus sp., Liku, 11.10.2000 Laminicoccus pandani (Cockerell) on Pandanus sp., Tumau, 11.10.2000 Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) on Colocasia esculenta, Tumafu, 11.10.2000 Dysmicoccus brevipes (Cockerell) on sugarcane, Tumafu, 11.10.2000
HETEROPTERA (True Bugs) Miridae (Mirid Bugs) Creontiades samoanus Knight: ex. inflorescence of Mangifera indica (mango), Alofi, 9.10.2000
Pentatomidae (Shield Bugs or Stink Bugs) Platynopus melacanthus (Boisduval): predator of caterpillars on Mangifera indica (mango), Alofi, 10.10.2000
DIPTERA (Flies) Agromyzidae (Agromyzid Leafminers) Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon), podborer ex Desmodium sp. (incanum?), Lemaga, 10.10.2000 Ophiomyia phaseoli (Tryon), leafminer ex : - Planchonella membranacea ('oluolu'), Lemaga, 10.10.2000 - chilli leaves, Talamaitoga, 10.10.2000 - Abelmoschus manihot ('pele'), 10.10.2000
THYSANOPTERA (Thrips) Thripidae Thrips tabaci Lindman; on Tiger Orchid, Ana, Niue, 11.10.2000
NEUROPTERA (Lacewings, etc.) Chrysopidae Chrysopa basalis Walker; on leaves of Mangifera indica (mango), Alofi, Niue, 9.10.2000
Niue Pest Survey 2001
LEPIDOPTERA (Moths and Butterflies) Geometridae (Looper caterpillars) Cleora samoana Butler; on Macaranga seemannii Muell.-Arg. var. seemannii ('Le'), Alofi, Niue, 10.10.2000. Note: An outbreak of this moth was occurring during the visit. Very large numbers of moths were seen swarming at outdoor lights; many hostplants suffered severe defoliation. Noctuidae (Noctuid moths) Earias vitella (Fab.); shootborer ex Abelmoschus manihot ('Pele'), Talamaitoga, Niue 10.10.2000 Tineidae (Tineid moths) Erechthias minuscula; ex Macaranga sp. ('Le'), Alofi, Nuie, 12.10.2000 Tortricidae (Tortricid moths) Dudua aprobola (Meyrick): feeding on inflorescence of Mangifera indica (mango), Rex's Place, Alofi, 9.10.2000 Batrachedridae Batrachedra arenosella (Walker): ex spike (inflorescence) of Cocos nucifera (coconut), Talamaitoga, 10.10.2000 Pyralidae (Pyralid moths) Etiella griea drososcia Meyrick: ex seed pods of Crotalaria sp. ('Pine elo'), Lemaga, 10.10.2000 Eurhodope ardescens (Meyrick); reared from mealybug colony, Alofi, Niue, 12.10.2000 Gracillariidae Stomphastis sp.2 (unnamed species) leaf-mining caterpillars on Macaranga seemannii ('Le'), Alofi, 11.10.2000 - first host record.
HYMENOPTERA (Wasps, Ants and Bees) Formicidae (Ants) Camponotus chloroticus Emery, 1897, ex sugarcane, north Niue, 12.10.2000 Anoplolepis longipes (Jerdon, 1851), Huvalu Conservation Area, 11.10.2000 Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius, 1793) (worker), attending mealybug Laminicoccus pandani (Cockerell) on Pandanus sp, Tumau, 11.10.2000 P. megacephala (soldiers & workers), tending mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes on Colocasia esculenta ('Taro'), Tumafu, 11.10.2000 P. megacephala (soldier), Tumufa, 11.10.2000 Paratrechina vaga (Forel). northern Niue, 12.10.2000 Rogeria sublevinodis Emery. northern Niue, 12.10.2000 Technomyrmex albipes (Fr. Smith), tending mealybugs on Banana, Ana, 9.10.2000 Technomyrmex albipes (Fr. Smith) ex Pandanus, Tumau, 11.10.2000 Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabr.) (worker), Huvalu, 13.10.2000 Tapinoma melanocephalum (Fabr.) Huvalu Rainforest Conservation area, 11.10.2000 Tetramorium pacificum Mayr, 1870. Rubbish dump, Alofi, 13.10.2000 Tetramorium pacificum Mayr, 1870. Huvalu Rainforest Conservation area, 11.10.2000 Paratrechina longicornis (Latreille, 1802). Huvalu Rainforest Conservation area, 11.10.2000 Odontomachus simillimus, Huvalu Rainforest Conservation area, 11.10.00
Niue Pest Survey 2001
ACARI (Mites) All species identified by Z.-Q. Zhang, Landcare Research, New Zealand Tetranychidae Tetranychus neocalidonicus Andre, from Pueraria lobata(?) in Avatele, Lemaga. 10.10.2000. New record for Niue.
Phytoseiidae Amblyseius sp. near largoensis (Muma), from Pueraria lobata(?) in Avatele, Lemaga. 10.10.2000. Note: This species looks very much like A. largoensis, which is a common predatory mite found worldwide on many plants. The Niue specimen differs slightly from it in the shape of the ventrianal shield. The identity can not be confirmed because only a single specimen is available.
Ascidae Proctolaelaps sp., from taro corms & soil, Tumafa. 11.10.2000. Note: Species of this genus are common predators in soil. This genus is taxonomically in confusion and no keys are available for further identifying the specimens.