Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Coleophora alcyonipennella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae), small clover casebearer
Agent introduced: Pyemotes zwoelferi (Acariformes: Pyemotidae)
Imported:
1961, 1962, 1967, 1968?, 1969
Import source:
1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969 near Avignon, France via Delémont, Switzerland; 1961, 1962 near Freiburg, Germany
Import notes:
Cameron et al. (1989) - the predatory mite Pyemotes zwoelferi was imported as infested Coleophora spp. host larvae; either C. frischella collected from Avignon, France (and reared in Delémont, Switzerland prior to shipment) or C. deauratella from near Freiburg, Germany. It is known to have been imported in 1961, 1962, 1967 and 1969 and was probably also present in the 1968 shipment but records are missing. All material in both the 1961 and 1962 shipments were destroyed in quarantine after outbreaks of P. zwoelferi [the shipments of Coleophora spp. were primarily to import parasitoids as potential biocontrol agents]. The mite was known to be included in the 1967 and 1969 importations but no major outbreaks occurred. There were no releases of P. zwoelferi [see Cameron et al. entry in the 'General comments' section]. [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:
Cameron et al. (1989) - not released.
General comments:
Cameron et al. (1989) - the use of P. zwoelferi as a biocontrol agent was rejected because of its wide host range and the probability of a detrimental effect on other existing host-parasitoid relationships.
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
