www.mpi.govt.nz

Eucalyptus leaf beetle response

Emmanuel Yamoah

Outline

• The incursion

• Surveillance

• Response

• Next activities

The incursion

Taxonomy of the organism

PHEL scientists obtained samples for ID

• Order : Coleoptera

• Family: Chrysomelidae

• Tribe: Paropsini

• Genus : Paropsisterna

• Species: beata

• Synonyms: Chrysophtharta beata, Paropsis beata

• Common name: Eucalyptus leaf beetle

Biosecurity risk

• Host: Eucalyptus spp.

• Impact: Defoliation & reduces pulp yield

• Annual value of pulp: >600 m (2011)

• CBA: Losses up to $23 m 20 years

• Environmental: Amenity planting

Location of commercial and non-commercial

Eucalyptus forests in New Zealand (22,000 ha)

Response structure

???

• Incursion pathway?

• Since when?

• Extent of spread?

• Eradicate the population if surveillance confirms limited

distribution

• Liaise with industry to ensure they are informed about the

response

• Manage the biosecurity risk to New Zealand’s Eucalyptus trees

Objectives & outcome

Surveillance

B3 consultation (Dr John Kean)

Three options

1. 2-3 km

2. 0-500 m

3. 500m-3 km

Surveillance strategy

• Factsheet distribution

– Whitemans Valley

– Eucalyptus growers

– NZFFA website

– MPI website

Surveillance options 1 & 2

Number of host Number of host plants to sample

Site Id plants present felling climbing ground visuals

1 2 0 1 0

2 10 0 5 1

3 1 0 1 0

4 30 1 16 1

5 16 1 9 0

Sample method: felling climbing ground visuals

Sample sensitivity: 90% 50% 10%

Surveillance: EPV and climbing

Distribution

• No P. beata found within 2-3km zone

• P. beata found within 100m radius

Response options & TAG

• Option 1: Eradicate the population

• Option 2: Control and contain population

• Option 3: Baseline scenario

• TAG formed to provide technical advice (B3)

Response option: Eradication

• Ground spraying: Talstar (bifenthrin)

• Aerial spraying: Dominex 100

• Meeting with residents

• Kept residents updated

• Public notification

• Develop risk management plan

• Consultation with MOH & Public Health

Techniques to minimise spray drift

• Spray drift calibration by Scion

• Spot spraying technique by Scion

(MPI & B3 co funded)

Spraying programme

Ground & aerial sprayings schedule

Month (2013/14) Ground Aerial

April √ √

May √ √

August √ X

September √ X

October √ √

November X √

December √ X

February 14 √ √

March 14 X √

Risk mitigation measures

Post-spraying surveillance

• Tree climbing

• Tree felling

• Ground visuals

• Bark searching

• Sticky tapes

• Light trapping

Bark stripping & tree felling

Results

• No P. beata found during Dec 2013 and Mar 2014 surveys

• No feeding damage detected on new leaves

• Several Paropsis larvae found on non sprayed trees.

Activity Responsibility Date Status

Surveillance within 2-3 km zone Brent Rogan 22 Feb 2013 Completed

Pre spray surveillance Brent Rogan 18 Apr 2013 Completed

Aerial and ground spraying Don Hammond 26 Apr 2013 Completed

Aerial and ground spraying Don Hammond 08 May 2013 Completed

Removal of loose barks Don Hammond 13 Aug 2013 Completed

Ground spraying Don Hammond 13 Sept 2013 Completed

Apply sticky bands to trees Don Hammond 13 Sept 2013 Completed

Surveillance (500m radius) Brent Rogan 04 Oct 2013 Completed*

Ground spraying Don Hammond 01 Oct 2013 Completed

First aerial Don Hammond 19 Oct 2013 Completed

Second aerial Don Hammond 02 Nov 2013 Completed

Sticky tapes surveillance Brent Rogan/Don 25 Nov 2013 Completed

Surveillance Brent Rogan Nov-Dec 2013 Completed

Factsheet distribution Response team 29 Nov 2013 Completed

Light trapping surveillance Don Hammond Dec-Jan 2014 Completed

Ground spraying Don Hammond 18 Dec 2013 Completed

Aerial spraying Don Hammond 24 Feb 2014 Completed

Ground spraying Don Hammond 24 Feb 2014 Completed

Aerial spraying Don Hammond 03 Mar 2014 Completed

Surveillance Brent Rogan 17 Mar 2014 Completed

Ground spraying Don Hammond 09 Jun 2014

Surveillance 2km radius Brent Rogan 01 Jul 2014

Surveillance 500m Brent Rogan Nov 2014

Surveillance 500m Brent Rogan Feb 2015

Surveillance 500m Brent Rogan Oct 2015

Declare eradication Emmanuel Nov 2015

Close response Emmanuel Dec 2015

Operational activity timeline for ELB response

What next: Surveillance

Activity Due date

Ground spraying 09 Jun 2014

Surveillance 2km radius 01 Jul 2014

Surveillance 500m Nov 2014

Surveillance 500m Feb 2015

Surveillance 500m Oct 2015

Close response (eradication) Nov 2015

Success of response

• Good science

Determining insect overwintering sites

Spot spraying technique and spray drift modelling

• Communication with residents & industry

• Resident’s support

• Support from RSL and TAG

• Insect behaviour: poor flying insect

Acknowledgements

• Residents

• AsureQuality

• Hammond Resource Management Ltd

• SPS Biosecurity – surveillance

• Heli Resources – aerial spraying

• NZ Biosecurity Services - ground spraying

• Scion – Spot spraying & spray drift calibration

• TAG

• John Kean (statistics)

• Projex Maintenance (House washing)

• Downer Tree Services - tree climbing and felling

• MPI Response team

• B3 Research