Curculionoidea (Insecta: Coleoptera) of New Zealand agricultural grassland and lucerne as potential non‐target hosts of the parasitoidsMicroctonus aethiopoidesLoan andMicroctonus hyperodaeLoan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Abstract

The parasitoids Microctonus aethiopoides Loan and Microctonus hyperodae Loan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) have been introduced into New Zealand to control the adult stage of the forage pests Sitona discoideus and Listronotus bonariensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), respectively. These parasitoids have been chosen to examine the environmental impact of introduced biological control agents on native and non-target species. A survey of the Curculionoidea fauna of pasture, lucerne, and modified native grassland in parts of the southern South Island, Canterbury, and the northern North Island of New Zealand, where these parasitoids are present, was carried out in order to identify Curculionoidea with taxonomic and ecological affinities with the target hosts, and hence, potential

Associations Between Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidea) and Plants, and Conservation Values in Two Tussock Grasslands, Otago, New Zealand

“…In accordance with the literature (May 1977;Barratt and Patrick 1987;Bremner 1988;May 1993;Barratt and Kuschel 1996;Barratt et al 1998), the lack of specific associations detected for the members of the Entiminae and Cyclominae recorded in this study, may indicate that they are generalist feeders. Such herbivores often exhibit more efficient dispersal capabilities than specialised species (Anderson 1988), making them more disturbance-tolerant.…”

“…Such herbivores often exhibit more efficient dispersal capabilities than specialised species (Anderson 1988), making them more disturbance-tolerant. It has been shown (Barratt et al 1998;Crisp et al 1998;Harris and Burns 2000) that in the absence of intact habitat, semi-modified, fragmented and historically disturbed indigenous vegetation, such as that surveyed here, can support considerable indigenous invertebrate biodiversity. A rapid inventory of plants may not provide information on the likelihood of such generalists being represented in a particular grassland area.…”

Using existing data to predict and quantify the risks of GM forage to a population of a non-target invertebrate species: A New Zealand case study

“…This is one of many New Zealand native weevil species which inhabits a wide range of habitats, particularly native grassland (Barratt et al, 2000). N. cervina exploits key introduced grass species, including ryegrass and clover in New Zealand's developed pastures, where the weevil can be found at densities of up to 100 m −2 (Barratt et al, 1998).…”

A revision of the New Zealand weevil genus Irenimus Pascoe, 1876 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae)

“…Other specimens were found under rocks or dung, collected through vacuum sampling in grassland, or were associated with Raoulia and Pimelea. Figures 13,14,27,28,40,79,80,81,82,83,84,86 Diagnosis. Medium to large species, lens shaped, grey.…”