Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Caliroa cerasi (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), cherryslug, pear slug
Agent introduced: Synomelix sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)
Imported:
1972, 1973
Import source:
Austria (1972), France (1972, 1973), Germany (1972, 1973)
Import notes:
Cameron et al. (1989) - in February 1972, 2,500 C. cerasi cocoons from Austria were sent to New Zealand. Twelve percent of the cocoons were parasitised by Synomelix sp.; these emerged in October, long before hosts were available in the field, and could not be used. In November 1972, 2,070 C. cerasi cocoons from Austria, France and Germany were sent to New Zealand; Synomelix sp. emerged from these cocoons and were reared on field-collected C. cerasi larvae, but the colony failed because many of the host larvae were killed by the protozoan Blastocrithidia caliroae. However, some of the imported cocoons had been cool-stored and then incubated in the following spring; Synomelix sp. emerged and parasitised many host larvae in the laboratory. Unfortunately, the parasitoid developed only in diapausing hosts, which were only a small proportion of those parasitised. In October 1973, 4,750 C. cerasi cocoons from France and Germany arrived in New Zealand. Most were cool-stored until spring 1974, at which time four male and 10 female Synomelix sp. emerged.
Released:
1974
Release details:
Cameron et al. (1989) - a small number (the exact number is unknown) of Synomelix sp. were released at two sites in Auckland in the North Island in 1974, from material imported into New Zealand in October 1973, and from which Synomelix sp. emerged in the spring of 1974.
Establishment:
Cameron et al. (1989) - no attempt has been made to check for the establishment of Synomelix sp. since the releases in Auckland in 1974; but it is very unlikely that enough were released to establish a viable population.
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.
