Biocontrol introduction
Target pests:
- Polistes chinensis antennalis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Asian paper wasp
- Polistes dominula (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), European paper wasp
- Polistes humilis (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), Australian paper wasp
- Vespula germanica (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), German wasp
- Vespula vulgaris (Hymenoptera: Vespidae), common wasp
Agent introduced: Volucella zonaria (Diptera: Syrphidae)
Imported: 2017
Import source: south-western UK
Import notes:
Landcare Research (2017i, 2018l) - thirteen Vespula nests collected in southern UK in late-summer 2017 were imported into quarantine at Lincoln, Canterbury. Parasitoids present included 800 V. zonaria larvae. The intention was to rear these for host range testing; however, only a small number of the imported individuals survived the overwintering process to pupate and adults did not mate in the artificial quarantine conditions. Host testing for Volucella spp. will have to be carried out in the UK.
EPA Applications:
EPA (2017b) - 18 Jul 2017: application by Landcare Research to import into containment parasitoids of the genera Volucella (Diptera: Syrphidae), Leopoldius (Diptera: Conopidae) and Metoecus (Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) to investigate their potential as biological control agents of invasive social wasps (Vespidae: subfamilies: Polistinae & Vespinae). EPA Application # APP203346, approved with controls 6 Sep 2017.
References
EPA (2017b). EPA Application APP203346: to import into containment insects (Diptera: Syrphidae, Conopidae; Coleoptera: Ripiphoridae) to investigate their potential as biological control agents of invasive social wasps (Vespidae: subfamilies: Polistinae & Vespinae). Environmental Protection Agency website https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/hsno-application-register/view/APP203346
Landcare Research (2017i). Wasp biocontrol update 12. Wasp biocontrol update: 12, 2017 https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biosecurity/invasive-invertebrates/vespula-wasps/wasp-biocontrol-updates/update-12/
Landcare Research (2018l). Wasp biocontrol update 13. Wasp biocontrol update: 13, 2018 https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biosecurity/invasive-invertebrates/vespula-wasps/wasp-biocontrol-updates/update-13/