Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Coleophora alcyonipennella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), small clover casebearer
Agent introduced: Diadegma majalis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) = Diadegma majale
Imported:
1952, 1968
Import source: 1952 near Montmédy, France; 1968 Avignon, France via Delémont, Switzerland
Import notes:
Cameron et al. (1989) - Diadegma majalis was imported as parasitised Coleophora spp. host larvae; either C. frischella collected from Avignon, France (and reared in Delémont, Switzerland prior to shipment) or C. trifolii from near Montmédy, France. An August 1952 importation of C. trifolii had a total parasitism rate estimated at 60-70%, though rates for individual parasitoid species were not recorded. Imported host larvae were held in cool storage until locally-sourced hosts became available. Parasitoid emergence continued over summer and parasitised hosts were released in March 1953. Diadegma majalis was also reared from three 1968 importations of C. frischella larvae, from which 12 females and 31 males emerged. An unsuccessful attempt was made to rear these in the laboratory on Coleophora spp. of various stages. [NB: there may be some doubt about the identity of the Coleophora species reported in this entry as C. frishcella. Cameron et al. (1989) reported C. frischella and C. spissicornis present in New Zealand, but it is now considered very likely that it is C. alcyonipenella rather than C. frischella present in New Zealand - see Taxonomic note (22 September 2025) entry below in 'General comments' section. Coleophora spissicornis has subsequently been synonymised with C. mayrella - see the introduction entries for the agents imported against C. mayrella for details.]
Released:
1953
Release details:
Cameron et al. (1989) - in March 1953, several hundred parasitised Coleophora spp. [apparently a mix of locally-collected Coleophora spp. and unemerged C. trifolii from the August 1952 importation] containing D. majalis (as well as other parasitoids) were released, probably in Nelson.
Establishment:
Cameron et al. (1989) - there have been no recoveries of D. majalis.
General comments:
Taxonomic note (22 September 2025) - Coleophora frischella has been reported present in New Zealand as the white-tipped clover casebearer by Cameron et al. (1989) and many other authors. However, it is very likely that the species reported from New Zealand as C. frischella is, in fact, C. alcyonipennella. Dugdale (1988) does not report C. frischella from New Zealand. He notes that the name frischella has been used for Coleophora specimens here, but he regards these as misidentifications of C. trifolii, and regards Coleophora alcyonipennella as a synonym of C. trifolii. However, Stubner (2007), in his revision of the C. frischella taxonomic group, considered C. frischella, C. alcyonipennella and C. trifolii all to be valid names (i.e. valid, separate species). Coleophora alcyonipennella, but not C. frischella or C. trifolii, is reported to be present in New Zealand by Biota of New Zealand (Landcare Research Biota of NZ - accessed 22 September 2025) and the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (Landcare Research SCNZ - accessed 22 September 2025).
References
Cameron PJ, Hill RL, Bain J, Thomas WP (1989). A Review of Biological Control of Invertebrate Pests and Weeds in New Zealand 1874-1987. Technical Communication No 10. CAB International Institute of Biological Control. DSIR Entomology Division. 424p.
Dugdale JS (1988). Lepidoptera - annotated catalogue, and keys to family-group taxa. Fauna of New Zealand, 14 https://doi.org/10.7931/J2/FNZ.14
Landcare Research Biota of NZ (). Biota of New Zealand. Landcare Research website https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz
Landcare Research SCNZ (). New Zealand Arthropod Collection: Systematics Collections Data. Landcare Research website https://scd.landcareresearch.co.nz/
Stubner A (2007). Taxonomic revision of the Coleophora frischella species group (Coleophoridae). Nota Lepidopterologica 30 (1): 121-172 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bc78/ab9b0a5889d02036f0d79ac1b4ce6f334582.pdf
