Biocontrol introduction

Target pest: Coleophora mayrella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) = Coleophora spissicornis, banded clover casebearer

Agent introduced: Gelis areator (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) = Hemiteles areator

Imported:

1955

Import source:

Near Montmédy, France

Import notes:

Cameron et al. (1989) - Gelis areator is a secondary parasitoid which emerged from a 1955 importation of 5,000 Coleophora trifolii host larvae collected near Montmédy, France. An unknown number of this parasitoid species emerged. Specimens were sent to the British Museum of Natural History for identification; none were released.

Released:

Cameron et al. (1989) - not released.

General comments:

Taxonomic note (22 September 2025) - Coleophora spissicornis is reported present in New Zealand as the banded clover casebearer by Cameron et al. (1989) and other authors. Baldizzone (1994) synonymised C. spissicornis with C. mayrella and Stubner (2007) treats it as a synonym of C. mayrella in his revision of the C. frischella taxonomic group (though noting some uncertainty about this due to the type specimen of Porrectaria spissicornis being damaged.) Coleophora mayrella, but not C. spissicornis, is reported to be present in New Zealand by Biota of New Zealand (Landcare Research Biota of NZ - accessed 22 September 2025) and the New Zealand Arthropod Collection (Landcare Research SCNZ - accessed 22 September 2025).

References

Baldizzone G (1994). Contribuzioni alla conoscenza dei Coleophoridae. LXXXVII. Coleophoridae nuovi o poco conosciuti dell'Africa settentrionale (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae). SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología 25(100): 219-257

Cameron PJ, Hill RL, Bain J, Thomas WP (1989). A Review of Biological Control of Invertebrate Pests and Weeds in New Zealand 1874-1987. Technical Communication No 10. CAB International Institute of Biological Control. DSIR Entomology Division. 424p.

Landcare Research Biota of NZ (). Biota of New Zealand. Landcare Research website https://biotanz.landcareresearch.co.nz

Landcare Research SCNZ (). New Zealand Arthropod Collection: Systematics Collections Data. Landcare Research website https://scd.landcareresearch.co.nz/

Stubner A (2007). Taxonomic revision of the Coleophora frischella species group (Coleophoridae). Nota Lepidopterologica 30 (1): 121-172 https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/bc78/ab9b0a5889d02036f0d79ac1b4ce6f334582.pdf