B3   >>   BCANZ home   ·   Search database   ·   Browse database

Biocontrol introduction

Target pests:

Agent introduced: Volucella inanis (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 50 V. inanis larvae. The intention was to rear these for host range testing; however, none of the imported individuals survived the overwintering process in quarantine.

Impacts on non-targets:

Brown (2020) - larvae of V. inanis are obligate ectoparasitoids of Vespula spp. (family Vespidae) wasp larvae. The evidence for this conclusion comes from literature sources, behavioural studies, and surveys in Europe. There are no native wasps in the family Vespidae in New Zealand. The highly specialised ecology and life history of V. inanis preclude other social Hymenoptera such as honeybees, bumblebees and ants present in New Zealand from serving as hosts. In a laboratory trial, V. inanis larvae (n = 6) did not attack larvae of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris, but after being moved near wasp comb they quickly found and attacked V. vulgaris larvae.

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.

EPA (2021a) - 14 Sep 2020: application by Tasman District Council to import and release two parasitoids, Metoecus paradoxus and Volucella inanis as biological control agents for the invasive German and common wasps (Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris). EPA Application #APP203875, approved without controls 16 Feb 2021.

References

Brown B. (2020). Application to EPA (APP203875) to introduce two parasitoids, Volucella inanis and Metoecus paradoxus, as biological control agents for the invasive German and common wasps, Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/APP203875/APP203875-Application.pdf

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

EPA (2021a). EPA application APP203875: to import and release 2 parasitoids, Metoecus paradoxus and Volucella inanis, as biological control agents for the invasive German and common wasps. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/hsno-application-register/view/APP203875

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/