Biological control of weeds in Aotearoa/New Zealand: History, science and achievements to date
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Other Title
Authors
Matthews, Jade K.
Fraser, Diane
de Lange, Peter
Fraser, Diane
de Lange, Peter
Author ORCID Profiles (clickable)
Degree
Grantor
Date
2023-11-29
Supervisors
Type
Journal Article
Ngā Upoko Tukutuku (Māori subject headings)
Keyword
Aotearoa
New Zealand
weeds
pest control
New Zealand
weeds
pest control
ANZSRC Field of Research Code (2020)
Citation
Matthews, J.K, Fraser, D.L. & de Lange, P.J. (2023). Biological control of weeds in Aotearoa / New Zealand: History, science and achievements to date. Perspectives in Biosecurity. 8. pp. 10–32. https://doi.org/10.34074/pibs.00803
Abstract
Aotearoa / New Zealand is the leading country globally in the use of biological control agents to combat introduced pest weed species. Here we review the history of biological control in Aotearoa / New Zealand, compile a list of current, self-introduced and accidentally introduced biocontrol agents, and list the agents currently under consideration for introduction to Aotearoa / New Zealand (accurate to 2021). We discuss the science and procedures in place for the safe introduction of a new biocontrol agent and discuss the public’s perception of biological control within Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Since the 1920s there have been 79 control agents released; 68 of those species were deliberate introductions, eight self-introductions and three accidental introductions. Additionally, there have been eight reported occurrences of non-target-species attack by biological control agents in Aotearoa / New Zealand, all of which cause minor damage to their unintended hosts. Prior to their introduction to Aotearoa / New Zealand, potential biological control agents are required to undergo rigorous research and host-specificity testing to ensure that the agent does not pose a risk to indigenous taxa through non-target attack.
This research is essential, as it ensures a precautionary approach is taken prior to introductions, which, in turn, provides the wider public with confidence in the validity of biocontrol agents as a means to manage weed species in Aotearoa / New Zealand.
Publisher
Unitec ePress. Te Pūkenga
Permanent link
Link to ePress publication
DOI
https://doi.org/10.34074/pibs.00803
Copyright holder
Unitec ePress, Te Pūkenga
Copyright notice
CC BY-NC Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International