Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Jacobaea vulgaris (Asterales: Asteraceae) = Senecio jacobaea, ragwort
Agent introduced: Cochylis atricapitana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), ragwort crown-boring moth
Imported:
2005
Import source:
Europe via Australia
Import notes:
Hill (2005) - Cochylis atricapitana will be imported into New Zealand as adults from a laboratory culture in Tasmania, Australia founded from insects collected at or near the same site as the populations used for recent host-range testing [see Hill (2005) entry in ‘Impacts on non-targets’ section below].
Released:
2006
Release details:
Hayes (2007), Gourlay (2011a) - released 2006 and 2007 at a limited number of sites nationwide.
Establishment:
Landcare Research (2014c) - has probably failed to establish.
Impacts on non-targets:
Hill (2005) - literature records from Europe suggest that C. atricapitana is monophagous on J. vulgaris and studies, from 1985 to 2005, on the potential host range of C. atricapitana have provided no compelling evidence to refute this. These studies involved a field survey and laboratory trials in Europe, host-range tests with New Zealand native plants in containment in New Zealand and two field surveys in Australia (in Victoria and Tasmania), 18 years after its release in that country. In total, 100 plant species were tested, including 38 taxa in the tribe Senecionaeae, of which 19 were New Zealand natives. While some larvae in laboratory trials could develop on non-target plants closely related to J. vulgaris when transferred to that plant as larvae, development from egg to adult only occurred on J. vulgaris. In the field surveys in Europe and Australia, C. atricapitana was only found on J. vulgaris. The risk to non-target species in New Zealand is considered to be very low, although it is possible that occasional eggs may be laid on a limited number of non-target species, on which larvae may feed briefly. Cochylis atricapitana was released as a biocontrol agent in Australia (1987) and Canada (1990); non-target impacts have not been reported from either country.
General comments:
Taxonomic note (29 June 2024) - at the time that C. atricapitana was introduced into New Zealand, ragwort, the target weed, was classified as Senecio jacobaea. However, molecular studies of the tribe Senecioneae by Pelser et al. (2006) showed that species of Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Mill.) Dumort. formed a well-supported clade that is only distantly related to other species usually attributed to Senecio, and proposed transferring the 27 species of sect. Jacobaea they analysed to the genus Jacobaea Mill. This included Senecio jacobaea, reclassified as Jacobaea vulgaris.
EPA Applications:
EPA (2005b) - 1 Jul 2005: application by West Coast Ragwort Control Trust to import for release two new moths, Cochylis atricapitana (Tortricidae) and Platyptilia isodactyla (Pterophoridae), for the biological control of the pasture weed ragwort. EPA Application # NOR05002, approved without controls 15 Dec 2005.
References
EPA (2005b). EPA application NOR05002 to import for release two new moths, Cochylis atricapitana (Tortricidae) and Platyptilia isodactyla (Pterophoridae), for the biological control of the pasture weed ragwort. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/database-search/hsno-application-register/view/NOR05002
Gourlay H. (2011a). Ragwort Crown-Boring Moth. In The Biological Control of Weeds Book (Landcare Research) https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/discover-our-research/biosecurity/weed-management/using-biocontrol/the-biological-control-of-weeds-book/
Hayes L (2007a). Status of weed biocontrol agents in Southland. A report prepared for Environment Southland Sept 2007. Landcare Research Contract Report: LC0708/022
Hill RL (2005). Application to EPA (NOR05002) to import for release, or release from containment, new organisms, Cochylis atricapitana and Platyptilia isodactyla. Environmental Protection Authority website https://www.epa.govt.nz/assets/FileAPI/hsno-ar/NOR05002/1097089c99/NOR05002.pdf
Landcare Research (2014c). Who's who in biocontrol of weeds? What's new in biological control of weeds? 69: 10-11 https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/assets/Publications/Weed-biocontrol/WhatsNew69.pdf
Pelser PB, Veldkamp J-F, Van der Meijden R (2006). New combinations in Jacobaea Mill. (Asteraceae – Senecioneae). Compositae Newsletter 44: 1-11 https://www.researchgate.net/publication/247158930_New_combinations_in_Jacobaea_Mill_Asteraceae-Senecioneae
