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Biocontrol introduction

Target pests:

Agent introduced: Chilocorus bipustulatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), Heather ladybird

Imported: 1987, 1988

Import source: Israel

Import notes: Charles et al. (1995) - 50-100 field-collected adults imported in 1987, 25 laboratory-reared adults in 1988. Imported with various species of Diaspididae for food. The field-collected colony was discovered to have microsporidian and gregarine pathogens; these were eliminated before any releases were made, but the colony remained weak and died out before the introduction of the lab-reared colony.

Released: 1988-1993

Release details: Charles et al. (1995) - 3,509 individuals released at four sites in Kerikeri (Northland), 1,255 at one site in Whangarei (Northland), 1,227 at one site in Auckland, 4,018 at five sites in Tauranga (Bay of Plenty), 1,908 at one site in Te Puke (Bay of Plenty) and 919 at six sites in Gisborne (Poverty Bay). Released as mostly adults into shelterbelt trees and/or woody weeds adjacent to kiwifruit blocks.

Establishment: Charles et al. (1995) - empty C. bipustulatus pupal cases were observed in kiwifruit in Auckland in January and February 1990, following releases of larvae in October and November 1989, but all sites were surveyed in 1993 and no C. bipustulatus were recovered, suggesting this species has not established. However, adults may have dispersed widely upon release and established beyond the areas searched.

References

Charles JG, Hill MG and Allan DJ (1995). Releases and recoveries of Chilocorus spp. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Hemisarcoptes spp. (Acari: Hemisarcoptidae) in kiwifruit orchards: 1987-93. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 22: 319-324