Author
Quentin Paynter
paynterq@landcareresearch.co.nz
Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group
Auckland, New Zealand
Coauthors
Freda Anderson, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), CONICET, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Jane Barton, Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group, Auckland, New Zealand
María Bianchinotti, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), CONICET, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Angela Bowners, Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group, Lincoln, New Zealand
Diego Carpintero, División Entomología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Soledad Delgado, Universidad de la República, Facultad de Agronomía, Montevideo, Uruguay
Rolf Delhey, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Hugh Gourlay, Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group, Lincoln, New Zealand
Lynley, Hayes, Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group, Lincoln, New Zealand
Mirta Kiehr, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Zane McGrath, Bioeconomy Science Institute – Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research Group, New Zealand
Gustavo Ramirez, Centro de Recursos Naturales Renovables de la Zona Semiárida (CERZOS), CONICET, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Daniel Testoni, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
CB Villamil, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Soledad Villamil, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Bahia Blanca, Argentina
Abstract
A biocontrol programme against a South American vine, moth plant Araujia sericifera, in New Zealand (NZ) was initiated in 2002. Surveys in South America commenced in 2004 and revealed a natural enemy biota attacking the plant rich in potential biocontrol agents for NZ. By 2008, a chrysomelid beetle with root-boring larvae, Freudeita cupripennis, and a defoliating rust fungus, Puccinia araujiae, were prioritised as candidate biocontrol agents, and a fruit fly, Anastrepha nigrotaenia, was added to this shortlist in 2010. All three species proved sufficiently host-specific to be released in NZ. However, the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and associated development of Access and Benefit Sharing legislation in Argentina, a taxonomic conundrum, and an objection to the release of one of the agents by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries due to potential impacts on trade, have all caused significant delays. To date, only F. cupripennis has been released, although prospects for releasing P. araujiae are good. At this stage, we still do not know if and when A. nigrotaenia will be released.
keywords
Moth plant Araujia sericifera
Anastrepha
Colour morph
Regulatory system
Trade
Highlights
Surveys in South America revealed a rich natural enemy biota attacking moth plant
One candidate agent, a fruit fly belonging to the genus Anastrepha posed a taxonomic conundrum
This was resolved but a potential threat to trade has delayed its release in New Zealand