Biocontrol introduction
Target pest: Coleophora mayrella (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae) = Coleophora spissicornis, banded clover casebearer
Agent introduced: Pyemotes zwoelferi (Acariformes: Pyemotidae)
Imported:
1961, 1962, 1967, 1968?, 1969
Import source:
1961, 1962, 1967, 1968, 1969 near Avignon, France via Delémont, Switzerland; 1961, 1962 near Freiburg, Germany
Import notes:
Cameron et al. (1989) - the predatory mite Pyemotes zwoelferi was imported as infested Coleophora spp. host larvae; either C. frischella collected from Avignon, France (and reared in Delémont, Switzerland prior to shipment) or C. deauratella from near Freiburg, Germany. It is known to have been imported in 1961, 1962, 1967 and 1969 and was probably also present in the 1968 shipment but records are missing. All material in both the 1961 and 1962 shipments were destroyed in quarantine after outbreaks of P. zwoelferi [the shipments of Coleophora spp. were primarily to import parasitoids as potential biocontrol agents]. The mite was known to be included in the 1967 and 1969 importations but no major outbreaks occurred. There were no releases of P. zwoelferi [see Cameron et al. entry in the 'General comments' section]. [NB: there may be some doubt about the identity of the Coleophora species reported in this entry as C. frishcella. Cameron et al. (1989) reported C. frischella and C. spissicornis present in New Zealand, but it is now considered very likely that it is C. alcyonipenella rather than C. frischella present in New Zealand - see the introduction entries for the agents imported against C. alcyonipenella for details. Coleophora spissicornis has subsequently been synonymised with C. mayrella - see Taxonomic note (22 September 2025) entry below in 'General comments' section.]
Released:
Cameron et al. (1989) - not released.
General comments:
Cameron et al. (1989) - the use of P. zwoelferi as a biocontrol agent was rejected because of its wide host range and the probability of a detrimental effect on other existing host-parasitoid relationships.
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
