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 insect 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. Page 2 of 14 ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified 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 hoverfly 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. Page 3 of 14 ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified 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 Page 4 of 14 ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified 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. Page 5 of 14 ER-AN-O2N-2 01/08: Application to import into containment any new organism that is not genetically modified Section Three – Identification of the organism(s) to be imported Complete this section separately for each new organism to be imported.