PLANTS AND ENVIRONMENT INVESTIGATION REPORT: OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 2014 BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Investigation and FOUND Diagnostic Centres and Response Directorate (IDC & R) is There were two interceptions of black responsible for surveillance, incursion investigation, diagnostics widow spiders during the reporting and response by managing investigations of notifications of period. In the first case, irrigation suspected exotic pests and diseases that may affect New Zealand’s equipment imported from the US primary industries. was unloaded from a container in Christchurch and the empty container transported to the rural town of Darfield, 48 km away. A spider was subsequently are already present in New Zealand. The KIWIFRUIT DISEASE RULED found in the container and reported investigation was closed. OUT to MPI. It was identified as a juvenile Unusual disease symptoms were female black widow (Latrodectus sp.). NEW STRAWBERRY MITE reported from the foliage of a single Significant webbing was present in the PEST RULED OUT kiwifruit plant in a Te Puke orchard, with container. The irrigation equipment was A strawberry grower contacted MPI stunted, variegated foliage on one of two tent-fumigated with methyl bromide and regarding suspect mites on strawberry leaders and tip dieback. Although these released and the investigation was closed. plants. The grower had been visited by an symptoms resembled herbicide damage, In the second case, MPI received Australian mite expert who believed the no link to herbicide use was initially notification of an unusual red spider seen symptoms were likely caused by a species apparent. Kiwifruit Vine Health collected on a car recently imported from the US. of tarsonemid mite not considered to samples for testing by MPI, while the From photographs, MPI entomologists be already present in New Zealand. grower ensured containment of potential tentatively identified it as the exotic Samples were requested and identified dispersal risks associated with the plant. red-backed jumping spider. MPI staff as cyclamen mites, Phytonemus pallidus Tests isolated no organisms capable of visited the site and inspected the car (Acari: Tarsonemidae), a species causing the observed symptoms but but no further spiders were found. A established in NZ and considered a foliage submitted to Hill Laboratories residual insecticide (permethrin) was sporadic and minor pest of stawberries. for herbicide residue analysis contained applied to the vehicle and surrounding The investigation was closed. glyphosate at 0.067 mg/kg. These surfaces to kill any live spiders that results and photographs of the observed might be present. A dead spider was TERMITES RULED OUT symptoms were sent to an AgResearch subsequently found under the car and A Dunedin pest control operator scientist, who confirmed the symptoms reported to be different from the one reported a picnic table with suspect were consistent with previous cases of initially photographed (which had been termites. The table originated from herbicide damage on kiwifruit and that destroyed). This specimen was identified overseas and had been purchased from a the glyphosate residues were within the by MPI as Latrodectus mactans (southern hardware store. MPI visited the property concentration range of other suspected black widow), a spider absent from and found the table had been dismantled cases. The investigation was closed. New Zealand and an MPI-regulated and bagged. Some of the framing timbers pest. While the insecticide treatment were severely rotted. Although termites NEW LEAF BEETLE was considered adequate to kill any were absent, lepidopteran larvae were ESTABLISHED other spiders present, MPI contacted the present, apparently feeding on the rotted Landcare Research received photographs notifier weekly for three weeks to confirm timber. Collected specimens were later from a member of the public of an insect no more had been seen. identified as Barea exarcha (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae), a species present in New believed to be the new to New Zealand Zealand. As the table was only six years leaf beetle, Cassida compuncta. A RISK ANTS RULED OUT tentative identification was made with Live worker ants and brood were found old, rotted timber samples were obtained for assessment of the fungi involved. The the assistance of an Australian expert. in a parcel of clothing purchased from The insect was found on roadside weeds China via the internet. Before notifying causal fungus appeared to be Trametes sp., a bracket fungus. DNA sequence (Convolvulaceae) near Opotiki, Bay of MPI the owner placed the clothing Plenty. The notifier had first noticed the outside, where ants carrying brood were data from the ITS region of the sampled fungus was 98.8 percent similar to beetles two or three years previously. seen running under wooden decking. MPI arranged collection of specimens MPI arranged for the clothes to be T. hirsuta, a common cause of white rot in dead native trees including beech. and, using high-definition microscope placed in a freezer while specimens photographs shared with the Australian were submitted for identification. Two taxonomic authority, confirmed species were found, Ochetellus glaber and the beetle was Cassida compuncta Monomorium pharaonis. Both species 22 SURVEILLANCE 42 (1) 2015 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). This is an taxonomist. This was confirmed by MPI UNUSUAL-LOOKING INSECT Australian species described as feeding using molecular diagnostics. Although on Ipomoea cairica (pouwhiwhi/coastal no literature lists its host preferences, FOUND morning glory) and probably other C. metallospora is not recorded as a pest An unusual-looking insect was found in Ipomoea species. I. cairica is indigenous species or as having other economic an Auckland house after the unpacking to both New Zealand and Australia. significance. Three of the 30 Chloroclystis of an imported television set. It was Although one literature source cites species are considered minor pests of described as small and “dragon-like”, with C. compuncta as a significant pest of cultivated plants. Larvae of moths in a tail/stinger, long red legs, a long black- sweet potato in Fiji, this record is not this group (subfamily Larentiinae, tribe and-grey-striped body and small wings. substantiated by other lists of Fijian Eupitheciini) typically feed on flowers MPI identified the specimen as the white- crop pests and is considered dubious. and vary from polyphagous to host spotted ichneumon fly, Echthromorpha Using molecular techniques, host specific. The taxonomist also advised intracatoria, a parasite of butterfly pupae material collected from the Opotiki site that most of the polyphagous species and already present in New Zealand. was identified as Calystegia silvatica, could be reared on pohutukawa flowers. C. sepiuim, or a hybrid of both. On the Interestingly, the light trap also contained MĀHOE DISEASE RULED basis of these findings an MPI response large numbers of the diamondback OUT was initiated. However, after consultation moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Nelson City Council staff reported with Horticulture NZ, the Department Plutellidae), suggesting a windborne unusual bark damage on māhoe trees of Conservation and others, the decision natural migration event from Australia, in a Nelson bush reserve. Māhoe or was made to stand down the response. where C. metallospora is native. It is whiteywood (Melicytus ramiflorus) This was based on the present known unclear to what extent this detection is a native tree common throughout distribution of the beetle, the likelihood reflects an established population of New Zealand. The damage was suspected that it was already present elsewhere in C. metallospora in NZ, but a lack of to be caused by gypsy moth and appeared New Zealand, the lack of cost-effective specific surveillance tools means it is restricted to the bark and subcortical methods to limit its distribution, the impractical to initiate wider surveillance zone. The damage was described as low probability of a successful outcome for this species. ringbarking of the trunk and main should eradication be attempted, and branches, and was present from the the comparatively low risk of its having EXOTIC ANTS RULED OUT base to the top of the tree. Photographs significant negative impacts. A member of the public found unusual supplied by the notifier suggested red ants in a recently built greenhouse birds, mammals or large insects as TERMITE ESTABLISHMENT among potting mix and mulch. As these possible causal agents. After showing PREVENTED items had been recently purchased the photographs to various specialists from the Warehouse and Bunnings, and Termites and ants were found in a for comment it was concluded that the were thought to have been imported, bundle of western red cedar timber damage was likely caused by foraging it was considered the ants might have imported from Canada into a Whangarei kaka birds. Subsequent discussion originated from overseas. The ants Transitional Facility. The insects were with the notifier suggested this was a were confirmed as the striated ant, identified as the termite, Zootermopsis plausible conclusion. Huberia striata, a species established in augusticollis, and the ant, Leptothorax New Zealand and not a biosecurity risk. sp. Both species are high-risk unwanted NEW STRAWBERRY species. The termites were alate and WASPS FOUND DISEASE RULED OUT de-alate life stages, suggesting the Large brightly coloured live wasps were Actively growing mould