Plants and environment investigation report

Redback spider establishment prevented The Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) Incursion Investigation ( & Environment) and Health Environment Laboratory A single redback spider (Latrodectus teams investigate and diagnose suspected exotic pests and diseases hasseltii) was found and captured from in the plant and environment sectors. Investigators and scientists the underside of a barbecue imported are based in Auckland and Christchurch. These teams provide field among personal effects when a family was relocating from . MPI investigation, diagnostic testing and technical expertise with regard to Quarantine Officers searched the new pests and diseases affecting plants and the environment. They also property and re-inspected imported have surveillance and response functions and carry out research and goods for further redback spiders but development to support surveillance and incursion response activities. none were found. Risk items were treated with permethrin insecticide previously. Although no adult borer MPI as a trap-jaw ant (Odontomachus as a precaution. were initially found, dead were sp. cf. simillimus), an exotic species not Staff at a Transitional Facility contacted later found in the drawers after domestic currently present in , but MPI when a live female redback spider insecticide was applied. Specimens were known to have a painful bite. The ant and egg sac were found on a wooden identified asLyctus brunneus, commonly was also determined to be a de-alate pallet holding a consignment of known as the powder post , a queen, meaning it had already mated, crumb rubber recently imported from common wood borer worldwide that is which increased the biosecurity risk. Australia. The egg sac contained dozens already established in New Zealand. MPI visited the site and determined of spiderlings that dispersed when that the facility staff had recently Active wood-boring damage disturbed. The apparently sole adult killed two similar ants. There was no was seen in a buffet unit imported female was sprayed with domestic fly obvious association to link the ant to from Java and purchased in 2012. The spray and killed, and the spiderlings were any particular imported goods, but a owner contacted first the importer (via also sprayed. MPI staff visited the facility search of the area where containers of the retailer), then MPI, by which time after notification but no more spiders bananas were stored resulted in two the cupboard had been collected for were found. The surrounding area was further ant finds. These were identified as fumigation by the importer. However, live treated with permethrin insecticide Iridomyrmex sp. and Nylanderia sp., both adult beetles were subsequently found in as a precaution. established in New Zealand and not a another cupboard drawer and identified biosecurity risk. However, ant specialists as rugicollis (Coleoptera: Establishment of wood were contracted to survey the risk area ), a species not present in borers prevented and eradicate any exotic ant colonies New Zealand. The importer confirmed Forty bamboo panels in a consignment found. Visual searching found no exotic that five other units were imported in the imported from Indonesia were thought ants. Similarly, pitfall traps left for seven same consignment. Of these, two had to possibly contain live borer larvae. days caught no ants. Pitfall traps were been sold to persons unknown. Only Apparently fresh borer frass and exit considered the appropriate surveillance one of the remaining three units was holes were seen after the panels had option as Odontomachus is a predatory able to be traced. It showed no sign of been in storage for 11 months, but were species and less likely to be attracted infestation, and the owner promised to thought to have been absent when the to the food baits typically used. As no notify MPI if they saw any signs of borer. panels were imported. Borer galleries and further specimens of this species were Fumigation and inspection of two units dead borer beetle adults were found when found it was concluded that the collected addressed the known risk. No further one panel was destructively sampled. specimen was most likely a solitary action was feasible. The beetles were identified asDinoderus individual not associated with a colony. nitidus (a species not present in New Establishment of high-risk Mango leaf hopper found Zealand) and Tribolium castaneum ants prevented (present in NZ). Although consignment A live insect found in a new caravan Specimens were sent to MPI after live information showed the goods had been imported from Australia the previous ants were found in a shed, near furniture treated with methyl bromide prior to month was sent to MPI and identified that had recently been shipped back from shipment, the goods were transported as a mango hopper, Idioscopus nitidulus Australia. However, these were identified to an appropriate facility and fumigated (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), a major as Monomorium antarcticum, a common again as a precaution. mango pest present in Australia but not native species and no biosecurity risk. New Zealand. This solitary hitchhiker Borer frass was noticed in the drawers of An unusual-looking ant found at a was considered to pose a negligible two bedside tables purchased together Transitional Facility was identified by biosecurity risk owing to the virtual with a TV cabinet about six months absence of fruiting mango trees in NZ.

74 Surveillance 42 (3) 2015 Potato wart disease Illegal seed import Hairy beetle excluded ruled out intercepted A recently purchased packet of dried Potato samples from Invercargill were An English gardening magazine posted pig-trotter dog food was found to sent to Environment Southland because to New Zealand was found to contain be contaminated with live . they were suspected to be infected four packets of seeds (sweetcorn, Specimens were identified asDermestes with potato wart fungus (Synchytrium courgette, squash and mixed lettuce). frischii (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), endobioticum), an unwanted organism This method of seed importation by- dermestid or hairy beetle, a serious that causes a serious potato disease passed MPI’s border system, including pest considered to be absent from overseas. Samples provided to MPI were the inspection process. The magazine New Zealand and known to feed determined to have powdery scab caused purchaser destroyed the seeds by burning primarily on products of origin. by Spongospora subterranea, a species and advised MPI that the magazine Investigation revealed that the pig already present in New Zealand. stated the next issue would include eight trotters were distributed to New Zealand more packets of seeds. MPI sent an email retail stores by an Australian company. New palm mealybug to the UK publisher, who immediately Importation of the consignment included ruled out replied and advised there were only three a declaration that the goods had been An entomologist found an unusual New Zealand subscribers, and they had heat-treated (cooked), so it is likely that mealybug on an exotic palm growing in updated their instructions to the printer the infestation occurred afterwards. In the grounds of the Auckland University to ensure no further seeds would be all, 307 packets were traced, immediately Law School and considered it a possible sent to the NZ subscribers. While the withdrawn from sale and subsequently new to New Zealand species. However, publisher was unwilling to provide the frozen to mitigate the biosecurity risk. specimens received by MPI were NZ subscribers’ contact details, they The Australian supplier was advised that identified asLaminicoccus flandersi offered to write to them with a message the product quality was unacceptable, (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a species of our choice. A suitable message was and MPI border intelligence was already present in New Zealand. It provided and subsequently received by notified to ensure increased compliance is currently unclear whether this the New Zealand subscriber. This was monitoring of this entry pathway. notification represents a new host considered a good outcome when dealing Causal agent of brome grass association record. with an international company to address a biosecurity risk pathway. disease reclassified Insects found in fish feed The causative agent of a brome grass A consignment of imported fish feed Rose seeds ordered on-line from a disease (bacterial wilt of turfgrass) was found to be infested with insects, New Zealand website arrived with has been renamed after analysis using despite having a zoosanitary certificate documentation showing they had been modern molecular diagnostics. What stating that it had been heat-treated sourced directly from China, labelled was previously known as Xanthomonas (to 80°C) before shipping. Methyl as “jewellery” and imported as a “gift”. campestris pv. graminis has been bromide fumigation was arranged for Noting that this appeared to be an reclassified asX. bromi. This bacterium the consignment, and the insects were attempt to avoid New Zealand border was first identified in New Zealand in subsequently identified asCtenolepisma scrutiny, the buyer contacted MPI. 1978 as X. campestris pv. graminis on longicaudata (a silverfish species already Investigation revealed that the seeds brome grasses, based on International established in New Zealand) and were only temporarily advertised on the Collection of Microorganisms from Dermestes ater, the black larder beetle, a website, and the goods were of a different Plants (ICMP) records. This has now species not recorded as present here. type from the other (mostly electronic) been confirmed as a misidentification D. ater is known as a globally widespread goods advertised. An email was sent to and isolates in the ICMP have been pest of stored products, and is often the owner of the web retailer, outlining renamed accordingly. MPI’s analysis found in fishmeal. It is also a host of the issues and appropriate future actions of the literature, observations of parasitic tapeworms that infect poultry. to ensure that customers comply with NZ photographed and documented The MPI border intelligence team was border requirements. It was concluded symptoms, and available DNA sequences, advised and will more carefully inspect that further seeds were unlikely to be have validated this identification, future fishmeal consignments to ensure listed. Safe destruction of the rose seeds which was made by Landcare Research. heat treatment has been sufficient to kill was arranged by MPI and the border The information will be added to any insects present. intelligence team was advised to ensure MPI’s database to update background future imports from this Chinese source knowledge on this pathogen. This is not will be flagged for inspection. a new organism under the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

Surveillance 42 (3) 2015 75 as records show it was previously present. was identified as Blaps polychresta New mangeao dieback X. campestris pv. graminis is reported (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) or Egyptian on other hosts and is therefore still beetle, a species present in Australia but disease ruled out considered present in New Zealand. not New Zealand. Further inspection of A QEII National Trust member reported the consignment failed to yield additional increasing foliar and branch dieback New aphid parasitoid found specimens, suggesting the beetle was a among Waikato plantings of the endemic An Auckland entomologist reported solitary hitchhiker. Egyptian beetles are mangeao ( calicaris) tree, and via MPI’s new organism email address detritivores and information suggests suspected a previously unreported exotic the detection of a new to New Zealand they feed mainly on rat droppings. disease. A web search found numerous braconid wasp collected in central references to dieback in mangeao, and Auckland. The entomologist took Spotlight on grain revealed that most cases were attributed photographs of the insect and sent importation process to environmental factors. A plant them to an overseas taxonomist with It was reported to MPI that a disease specialist who visited the site expertise in the Braconidae family of consignment of maize (about 36 000 and examined two particularly affected parasitic wasps. From these, Betuloxys tonnes) contained weed seeds that trees concluded that the observed compressicornis (Hymenoptera: might provide an entry pathway for damage was most likely the result of Braconidae) was identified. An grain diseases not present in New adverse climatic and environmental MPI entomologist has examined Zealand. The consignment had been conditions and damage from possums. the photographs and believes the imported six months previously from Soil and root samples were collected as a identification is consistent with Bulgaria and offloaded at the Port of precaution but no pathogens were found B. compressicornis. However, this Tauranga, where most of it was stored in microbial culture that might explain diagnosis cannot be validated as the in silos near the wharf and the balance the observed symptoms. Once again the single collected specimen was disposed in an overflow Transitional Facility. The symptoms were considered likely to have of before the notifier realised its maize was imported under the Grain been caused by environmental factors. significance. Published information Import System (GIS) to be processed Minor banana disease suggests the wasp is a parasite of the birch for chicken feed. The GIS allows aphids Calaphis flava and Euceraphis imported grain to contain weed seeds reported betulae, both species present in up to certain thresholds, provided that A horticulture tutor from Whangarei New Zealand. it is processed into feed pellets and not found a fungus causing stem damage on cultivated ladyfinger banana trees. Chicken dung fly found used for seed. Investigations revealed the suggested biosecurity issue related Although the specimen submitted to An Auckland entomologist reported to the storage and transportation of MPI was only mildly attacked, there a new to New Zealand species that he the grain for processing (particularly were reports of other trees with broken tentatively identified as the chicken dung spillage during transit and cleaning the stems. The fungus was identified as fly,Fannia pusio (Diptera: Fanniidae), trucks afterwards). It was during these Ceratocystis musarum (Microascales: a determination subsequently validated activities that the reporter considered Ceratocystidaceae) by molecular by MPI. Although adults were common there was a risk of weed seeds becoming diagnostic techniques. This species has when collected at the University of established. The required GIS processes previously been erroneously recorded as Auckland Tamaki campus, its hosts there were reviewed against what had actually present in New Zealand when in fact the remain unknown. As its common name occurred in the recent past and it was single sample found was from a border implies, it can be abundant in poultry concluded that there was no evidence of interception and not from an established facilities, but the larvae also feed on other a weed incursion, and that the grain had population. However, this latest case organic material including decaying been handled in accordance with the GIS. shows the fungus really is established vegetation, excrement, fungi and carrion. Nevertheless, the report led to a review of here and has likely been present for some Investigators concluded this species will MPI’s procedures to monitor compliance years. As the disease is host-specific to likely be of no greater concern than any with the GIS, and additional precautions banana, its impacts will be confined to other adventive fly species present in and inspection will be implemented non-commercial gardeners who cultivate New Zealand. during secondary movement. This banana plants, and are likely to be only a Tenebrionid beetle found will increase our confidence that there low-level nuisance. MPI received notification from border are no unwanted sprouting weeds in Swallowtail butterfly staff that a large tenebrionid beetle had stored imported grain, and that trucks reported been found in a cleared shipment of and drivers comply with GIS during A swallowtail butterfly photographed wallboard from Australia. The specimen secondary movement of the grain. in a Napier garden during January 2014 appeared to be a species not considered

76 Surveillance 42 (3) 2015 established in New Zealand. The butterfly New solitary bee mite found in New Zealand, phylogenetic analysis flew away before it could be collected. A bee nest found on a window frame was has confirmed that samples collected in This information was passed to MPI sent to MPI and identified as a nest of the this investigation are different. Hence only recently by a media entomologist. wool carder bee, Anthidium manicatum E. longipes is currently considered a The photograph shows a butterfly that (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae), an exotic new to New Zealand species. However, was probably Papilio polytes cyrus solitary bee species present in New further molecular studies are needed to (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae), though this Zealand. A mite species, Sennertionyx verify whether NZ morphology-based cannot be confirmed without a specimen. manicati (Sarcoptiformes: Acaridae) identifications of powdery mildews on This species is an unwanted organism. was also present in the nest. S. manicati tamarillo are accurate, and to rule out the It is found from Southeast to Japan has never previously been reported possibility that E. longipes may actually and throughout China and India. It is from NZ, but is present in Belgium, the be one of the morphologically described regarded as tropical, possibly subtropical. Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia, powdery mildews already present in On the Malay Peninsula, the cyrus form Georgia, Armenia, , Kazakhstan, North New Zealand. is mostly found on the plains rather than America, and likely elsewhere. Little is at cooler, higher elevations. It is abundant New mite found known about the mite except that its in its home range and is common in A new to New Zealand mite species was deutonymph (second larval stage) has a butterfly houses. There appears to be identified from litter/pollen/mite samples close relationship with solitary bees of the no literature on the temperature limits collected by a bee and pollination Megachilidae family. This appears to be of this species but it is unlikely that expert from stored honeybee combs in the first time all life stages of S. manicati the Napier winter climate would be Christchurch. MPI considers the mite not have been found. A possible explanation suit its establishment. The larvae ofP. to be a high-priority pest, but one of the for its presence in New Zealand is that polytes feed on plants of the Rutaceae, many mite species, exotic and endemic, it was present on the wool carder bee particularly Citrus spp. There are three present in New Zealand though not when the latter became established here. native plant species in this family but previously recorded or taxonomically The mite is very small and has likely their suitability as hosts is unknown. described. Three species were found: been overlooked because of its size. S. Pupae are found hanging bare on stems, Tyrophagus savasi, Blattisocius tarsalis manicati is considered unlikely to present attached to a stem by two silk strands. and Melichares agilis. The first two are a significant biosecurity risk as it is not a Introduction to New Zealand as pupae recorded as present in NZ, but M. agilis known parasite or disease vector. on risk goods is a possibility, but the has not previously been recorded. M. pupae are likely to be easily damaged. As Possible new powdery agilis has a reasonably cosmopolitan P. polytes is not present in Australia it is mildew tamarillo disease distribution and is associated with stored unlikely that this specimen was carried food, residential dwellings and natural Leaf damage was reported on tamarillo on the wind; also it was in very good habitats, where it is known as a predatory plants in Mt Maunganui residential condition, suggesting it had recently mite feeding on other mites. It has been gardens over several seasons. Symptoms emerged. Although seen at Westshore it reported in association with T. savasi were described as progressive yellowing, could have flown there from anywhere on stored beehive combs. M. agilis is then browning and finally curling. in Napier. There is no butterfly house not considered to be of environmental Whether the cause was insects or disease in Napier, but there are three elsewhere and economic significance. The was unclear. Samples were sent to MPI in New Zealand. It is possible, though sample collector was advised and the and a powdery mildew disease was unlikely, that some person took the insignificance of this newly identified diagnosed. Molecular identification insect from one of those houses. It is also mite has been explained to the confirmed that the fungus wasEuoidium possible that the specimen was imported beekeeping industry. longipes (syn. Oidium longipes) illegally (e.g., from an overseas supply (Erysiphales: Erysiphaceae). Known New beneficial insect found house as eggs or pupae), but there is no hosts include Nicotiana sp, Petunia x CRI staff examining the insect fauna evidence. The source of the butterfly hybrida and Solanum melongena, and of flax Phormium( tenax) growing at remains unknown. The butterfly is very it has been reported from Europe and Mt Albert Research Centre (MARC), striking and has large, distinctive larvae, . This is the first record of Auckland, found two adult coccinellid yet only one specimen has been seen in E. longipes in New Zealand and the first beetles among the mealybugs feeding Napier in the past 15 months. It therefore case ever on tamarillo. Additional studies on the flax. Working together, Landcare seems highly unlikely that a population of powdery mildews on solanaceous Research and MPI identified the beetle exists there. MPI’s High Risk Site hosts in New Zealand are needed to as Rhyzobius lophanthae (Coleoptera: Surveillance team has been informed, and determine the distribution and host range Coccinellidae), a predator of scale insects. will look for butterflies in Napier next of E. longipes. While several powdery This is the first record of R. lophanthae summer. The investigation has mildews are recorded from tamarillo in New Zealand. Native to Australia, been closed.

Surveillance 42 (3) 2015 77 it has been introduced worldwide as a the balance of environmental costs and biological control agent against scale economic benefits of this species. insects, and is produced commercially in Mark Bullians several countries for mass release (usually Manager in a single event) in glasshouses and Surveillance & Incursion Investigation (Plants among field crops. An Australian source and Environment) suggests that this species was released Investigation and Diagnostic Centres and in New Zealand in 1935–1936, but this Response Directorate cannot be confirmed from local sources. Ministry for Primary Industries MARC is the only known site of R. [email protected] lophanthae but its discovery there is likely to be related to high search effort rather than recent establishment. How widely this species is distributed in New Zealand is not known. A survey for mealybug parasitoids completed some years ago might have detected R. lophanthae if it was widespread and common, but no unexpected coccinellid species were found. How long it has been present here is also unknown, but the extent of the MARC population indicates it has been present at this site since at least the 2013–2014 summer. Its establishment would be welcomed by horticultural industries that have problems with scale insects, as R. lophanthae is considered an effective biological control agent overseas, and its life cycle and biology suggest it could complete three or more generations annually outdoors in northern New Zealand. The potential for adverse effects on native biota is uncertain: it is known to eat other prey but is generally regarded as a specialist scale predator. The additional biotic pressure of R. lophanthae on native scales might be limited as there appear to be 17 native Rhyzobius species already filling this role in New Zealand. Conversely, R. lophanthae might outcompete and displace these native predators. It is likely to occupy diverse habitats here. Although best known as a predator in orchards and glasshouses, R. lophanthae is active in natural forests in the US, and so could occupy native habitats here. Eradication was not considered a feasible option owing to the suburban location of the site, uncertainty about how long the species has been present, how far afield it occurs in the highly diverse habitats of residential Auckland, and ambiguity over

78 Surveillance 42 (3) 2015