Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Tuberolachnus salignus (Hemiptera: Aphididae), giant willow aphid
Agent introduced: Pauesia salignae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) = Aphidius salignae
General comments:
Sopow (2017) - the specialist parasitoid, Pauesia salignae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae), present in Japan, was thought to be suitable as a potential biocontrol agent against the giant willow aphid in New Zealand. However, Scion entomologists have located another more promising species of Aphidiinae, currently unidentified [subsequently identified as Pauesia nigrovaria - see Sopow et al. (2021)] parasitising T. salignus in California, and would like to import both species, if funds allow, into quarantine for assessment. Therefore the application to import potential agents for host range testing (see EPA (2017d) in "EPA Applications" section) is at the level of sub-family rather than species.
Sopow et al. (2021) - Pauesia nigrovaria was imported into quarantine for host range testing; P. salignae has not been imported.
EPA Applications:
EPA (2017d) - 10 Apr 2017: application by The New Zealand Forest Research Institute Ltd (Scion) to import into containment parasitoids of the subfamily Aphidiinae, so that they can be evaluated for their potential as biological control agents for giant willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus. EPA Application # APP203191, approved with controls 18 Apr 2018.
References
EPA (2017d). Application to EPA (APP203191) to import into containment parasitoid species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) for assessment as biological control agent of the giant willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/hsno-application-register/view/APP203191
Sopow S, Wardhaugh C, Turner R, Gresham B, Sutherland R, Woodall G, Withers T. (2021). Host specificity testing of Pauesia nigrovaria (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) for classical biological control of Tuberolachnus salignus (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) in New Zealand. BioControl 66: 739–751 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-021-10107-5
Sopow S. (2017). Application to import aphidiine parasitoids into containment, so that they can be safely evaluated for their potential as biological control agents for giant willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus. EPA Application APP203191 http://www.epa.govt.nz/search-databases/HSNO%20Application%20Register%20Documents/APP203191_APP203191_Application%20form_Final.pdf
