APP203542: An application to release two moths, Wheeleria - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Summary of Staff Assessment Report

APP203542: An application to release two moths, Wheeleria spilodactylus and Chamaesphecia mysiniformis, as biological control agents for the weed Marrubium vulgare.

AUGUST 2018

The application 2

• The Horehound Biocontrol Group lodged an application

with the EPA on 15 May 2018 seeking pre-approval to release Wheeleria spilodactylus and Chamaesphecia mysiniformis, as biological control agents for the weed Marrubium vulgare.

• The application was publicly notified. The EPA received

40 submissions: 39 submitters supported the application and one opposed the application. Eight submitters indicated they wished to present their submissions at a hearing.

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Wheeleria spilodactylus Plume moth Chamaesphecia mysiniformis Marrubium vulgare Clearwing moth Horehound Biocontrol agents Target weed

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Distribution of horehound in New Zealand

Risk/Benefits assessment

• We assessed the risks and benefits of bringing the plume moth and the clearwing moth into

New Zealand, assuming the successful establishment of self-sustaining populations.

• We assessed the risks and benefits to
• the environment,
• market economy,
• public health,
• people and communities, and
• Māori and their relationship with the environment.

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Assessment of risks Assessment of benefits Potential environmental risks  No BCA More herbicide use Reduced biodiversity  BCA Impact on non-target species Disruption of food webs Worse weeds may establish Potential environmental benefits  BCA Less herbicide use Improved biodiversity Fewer new sites invaded  No BCA Decontamination of soil Potential economic risks  No BCA More herbicide use Increased cost of crops Decreased wool value Reduced productivity  BCA Less herbage available Potential economic benefits  BCA Less herbicide use Cost-effective Increase in wool value Increase of pasture productivity  No BCA More herbage available for medicinal use

Environmental benefits

• Limit the invasion of new sites

 Highly likely to have major beneficial effects

• Improved biodiversity

 Likely to have minor beneficial effects in pastoral areas and major beneficial effect in unmanaged habitats

• Reduced use of herbicides

 Likely to have minor beneficial effects but highly likely in the long term  We assessed the environmental benefits of the introduction of the two biocontrol agents to range from low to high.

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Economic benefits

• Reduced cost of herbicides

 likely to have minor beneficial effects

• Increased pasture productivity

 highly likely to have major beneficial effects

• Increased wool value

 highly likely to have major beneficial effects  We assessed the economic benefits of the introduction of the biocontrol agents to range from low to high.

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Environmental risks

• Attack non-target species
• Phylogenetic relationship between horehound and other plants
• Narrow host range confirmed by experiments
• Plume moth has high host specificity (2 species in tribe Marrubieae)
• Clearwing moth (6 species in 2 tribes included in the sub-family Lamioideae)
• In New Zealand, 5 indigenous species in the Labiatae family

 highly improbable that the 2 moths would attack non-target native plant

• species. We assessed that, if off-target attacks should occur, then these would be

incidental and cause minimal effects.

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Environmental risks

• Disruption of food webs and insect interactions
• Poor fauna associated with horehound
• Not main source of nectar for honey bees
• No native moth species in the same genus
• Presence of potential parasitic insect

 Very unlikely to disturb horehound-fauna and would have minor effects

• Replaced by worse weeds

 Likely to have a minor impact  We assessed the adverse environmental effects from the introduction of the two biocontrol agents in New Zealand’s environment to be negligible.

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Economic risks

• Reduced plant availability
• Interruption in horehound infestation could be a barrier to BCA dispersal
• Combination of controls
• Cultivate horehound
• Integrate the harvest in the weed management strategies

 very unlikely to adversely affect plant availability. The economic risks for herbalists is assessed to be minor  We assessed the adverse effects of the introduction of the two biocontrol agents to New Zealand’s market economy to be negligible.

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Summary of our assessment

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Potential outcomes Likelihood Consequence Conclusion

Potential beneficial effects to the environment

Limit the invasion of new sites, especially conservation and sensitive areas Highly likely Major High Reduce the use of herbicides Likely Minor Low Increase in biodiversity in managed / unmanaged habitats Likely Minor / major Low / medium

Potential beneficial effects to the market economy

Reduce cost to control horehound from herbicides Likely Minor Low Increase in pasture productivity Highly likely Major High Increase in the value of wool Highly likely Major High

Potential adverse effects on the environment

Risks to non-target species Highly improbable Minimal Negligible Risk to ecosystem interactions and food webs (indirect effects) Very unlikely Minimal Negligible

Potential adverse effects to the market economy

Decrease plant availability for medical herbalists and their businesses Very unlikely Minor Negligible

Conclusion on benefits and risk assessment

• After completing our assessment and reviewing the available information, we assessed

that the adverse effects of releasing the plume moth and the clearwing moth to control horehound are negligible and the benefits are significant.

• The benefits from the release of the two agents outweigh the risks.

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Minimum standards

• We assessed the release of Wheeleria spilodactylus and Chamaesphecia mysiniformis

against the minimum standards in the HSNO Act.

• Our assessment concludes that the two biocontrol agents meet the minimum standards.

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Relationship of Māori to the Environment

• Kaupāpa Kura Taiao made a cultural risk assessment of the application and concluded

the benefits of the plume moth and the clearwing moth are likely to outweigh their disbenefits.

• The potential risks to Māori interests may be acceptable but information gaps remain.
• Are the two moths able to interbreed with native moths, resulting in hybridisation and/or

disruption of the native species?

• Need more information on horehound as a rongoa (traditional medicine).

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Recommendation

• Our assessment has found that the benefits of releasing Chamaesphecia mysiniformis

and Wheeleria spilodactylus outweigh any identified risks or costs. We, therefore, recommend that the application be approved.

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For more information contact:

General enquiries Phone +64 4 916 2426 Fax +64 4 914 0433 info@epa.govt.nz