Evaluation of the field impacts of simulated Bacillus thuringiensis‐transgenic Pinus radiata on nontarget native Lepidoptera and their natural enemies in a New Zealand plantation forest. (22nd October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Burgess, Elisabeth P. J.; Kean, Aliesha M.; Barraclough, Emma I.; Poulton, Joanne; Wadasinghe, Gnanaseela; Markwick, Ngaire P.; Malone, Louise A.
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 16:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 63
• Page End: 74
• Publication Date: 2013-10-22
• Subjects: Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="afe12034-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="afe12034-para-0001"> <list list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>Future options for the control of biosecurity risk pests in New Zealand's plantation <italic>Pinus radiata</italic> forests include <italic>Bacillus thuringiensis</italic> (Bt) sprays and transgenic trees expressing Bt.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Potential impacts on nontarget native Lepidoptera and their natural enemies were assessed via monthly samples of larvae from <italic>P. radiata</italic> trees sprayed fortnightly for 18 months with Bt at a rate that mimicked the insecticidal effects of transgenic Bt‐pines.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Bt‐treated trees supported fewer larvae of <italic>Pseudocoremia leucelaea</italic>, <italic>Pseudocoremia fenerata</italic>, <italic>Declana floccosa</italic>, <italic>Planotortrix notophaea</italic> and <italic>Ctenopseustis obliquana</italic> than unsprayed control trees during both summer seasons. Populations of the most abundant species <italic>Pseudocoremia suavis</italic> were reduced on Bt trees in the second summer only. Proportions of lepidopteran larvae on Bt and control trees infected with an unidentified microsporidium were not significantly different. <italic>Pseudocoremia suavis</italic> and <italic>D. floccosa</italic> were less likely to be parasitized by <italic>Meteorus pulchricornis</italic> when collected from Bt rather than control trees, although parasitism rates in other species did not differ.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>Transgenic Bt‐pines could cause nontarget lepidopteran mortality in New Zealand plantations but population effects are likely to vary with species, weather and availability of refugia; natural enemies are unlikely to be at significant risk.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>