VKM Report 2016: 36 Assessment of the risks to Norwegian biodiversity from the import and keeping of terrestrial arachnids and insects Opinion of the Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered species of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety Report from the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) 2016: Assessment of risks to Norwegian biodiversity from the import and keeping of terrestrial arachnids and insects Opinion of the Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered species of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety 29.06.2016 ISBN: 978-82-8259-226-0 Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) Po 4404 Nydalen N – 0403 Oslo Norway Phone: +47 21 62 28 00 Email: [email protected] www.vkm.no www.english.vkm.no Suggested citation: VKM (2016). Assessment of risks to Norwegian biodiversity from the import and keeping of terrestrial arachnids and insects. Scientific Opinion on the Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered species of the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety, ISBN: 978-82-8259-226-0, Oslo, Norway VKM Report 2016: 36 Assessment of risks to Norwegian biodiversity from the import and keeping of terrestrial arachnids and insects Authors preparing the draft opinion Anders Nielsen (chair), Merethe Aasmo Finne (VKM staff), Maria Asmyhr (VKM staff), Jan Ove Gjershaug, Lawrence R. Kirkendall, Vigdis Vandvik, Gaute Velle (Authors in alphabetical order after chair of the working group) Assessed and approved The opinion has been assessed and approved by Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Members of the panel are: Vigdis Vandvik (chair), Hugo de Boer, Jan Ove Gjershaug, Kjetil Hindar, Lawrence R. Kirkendall, Nina Elisabeth Nagy, Anders Nielsen, Eli K. Rueness, Odd Terje Sandlund, Kjersti Sjøtun, Hans Kristen Stenøien, Gaute Velle. (Panel members in alphabetical order after chair of the panel) Acknowledgment The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (Vitenskapskomiteen for mattrygghet, VKM) has appointed a working group consisting of both VKM members and external experts to answer the request from the Norwegian Environment Agency. Project leader from the VKM secretariat has been Maria Asmyhr. The members of the working group, Anders Nielsen, Merethe Aasmo Finne (VKM staff), Maria Asmyhr (VKM staff), Jan Ove Gjershaug, Lawrence R. Kirkendall and Gaute Velle (Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) are acknowledged for their valuable work on this opinion. The Panel on Alien Organisms and Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is acknowledged for comments and views on this opinion. VKM would like to thank Great Britain Non-Native Species Secretariat for allowing the use and adaptation of the risk assessment template. VKM would like to thank the hearing experts Svein Fosså, Thor Håkonsen, Erik Myhre and Jan Ove Rein for their contributions. Competence of VKM experts Persons working for VKM, either as appointed members of the Committee or as external experts, do this by virtue of their scientific expertise, not as representatives for their VKM Report 2016: 36 employers or third party interests. The Civil Services Act instructions on legal competence apply for all work prepared by VKM. VKM Report 2016: 36 Table of Contents Summary ................................................................................................................ 7 Sammendrag på norsk ........................................................................................... 9 Abbreviations and glossary .................................................................................. 11 Background as provided by the Norwegian Environment Agency ........................ 12 Terms of reference as provided by the Norwegian Environment Agency ............. 12 1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 14 1.1 Problems related to invasive non-native species ..................................................... 14 1.2 Invasive Arthropods ............................................................................................. 15 1.3 Factors controlling the risk of invasiveness ............................................................. 16 1.4 Challenges relating to taxonomic uncertainty .......................................................... 17 1.5 Biology and ecology of the focal species groups...................................................... 17 Phasmids .................................................................................................. 17 Mantids .................................................................................................... 18 Scorpions ................................................................................................. 19 Tarantulas ................................................................................................ 20 1.6 Potential for successful establishment in a 50 year perspective ................................ 21 2 Methodology and data.................................................................................. 23 2.1 Methodology for evaluation ................................................................................... 23 Initial screening phase ............................................................................... 23 Risk assessment scheme ............................................................................ 24 Modified GB-NNRA protocol ........................................................................ 26 Rating and descriptiors .............................................................................. 34 2.2 Sources of Information ......................................................................................... 36 Phasmids .................................................................................................. 36 Mantids .................................................................................................... 37 Scorpions ................................................................................................. 37 Tarantulas ................................................................................................ 37 2.3 Climate modelling ................................................................................................ 38 3 Assessment results....................................................................................... 40 3.1 Phasmids ............................................................................................................ 40 3.2 Mantids ............................................................................................................... 44 3.3 Scorpions ............................................................................................................ 50 VKM Report 2016: 36 3.4 Tarantulas ........................................................................................................... 50 4 Precautionary measures............................................................................... 57 5 Uncertainties ................................................................................................ 58 5.1 Taxonomic and nomenclatural uncertainties ........................................................... 58 5.2 Uncertainties relating to climatic tolerance and niche .............................................. 59 5.3 Uncertainties related to the species general biology ................................................ 59 6 Answers to terms of reference ..................................................................... 61 7 Data gaps ..................................................................................................... 69 8 Additional information ................................................................................. 70 8.1 Impact of climate beyond a 50-years perspective ................................................... 70 8.2 Ecosystem services .............................................................................................. 70 8.3 Negative impacts on biodiversity of the exporting country ....................................... 71 Phasmids .................................................................................................. 71 Mantids .................................................................................................... 71 Scorpions ................................................................................................. 72 Tarantulas ................................................................................................ 72 References ........................................................................................................... 74 Appendix I ............................................................................................................ 80 Appendix II ........................................................................................................ 115 Appendix III ....................................................................................................... 118 Appendix IV ........................................................................................................ 122 VKM Report 2016: 36 Summary The Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM) has been asked by the Norwegian Environment Agency to undertake an assessment of the risks of negative impacts on biodiversity in Norway stemming from the import of terrestrial scorpions, tarantulas, mantids, and stick insects for