Niue is set to introduce a leaf-feeding beetle, Lilioceris cheni, aimed at mitigating the spread of the invasive air potato vine, Dioscorea bulbifera, known locally as hoi. This initiative, marking the first Pacific deployment by the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) through its Natural Enemies – Natural Solutions (NENS) Programme, is spearheaded by Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research (MWLR). The program is designed to diminish the effects of invasive plants by reintroducing natural predators from their native regions, thereby enhancing the ecological health and resilience of Pacific communities.
The beetles, cultivated at Manaaki Whenua's Invertebrate Containment facility in Lincoln, New Zealand, are scheduled for release in early November in collaboration with Niue's Environment Department and the guidance of National Invasive Species Coordinator, Mr. Huggard Tongatule. Tongatule highlighted the cost-effective, long-term benefits of leveraging natural predators to control invasive species, emphasizing the particular challenge posed by hoi to local agriculture.
The air potato, characterized by its rapid growth and bulbil-producing vines, is native to Asia and possibly tropical America. Its invasive nature is evident across several Pacific Islands, impacting native vegetation and agricultural productivity. Previous introductions of beneficial organisms in Niue have targeted other invasive weeds, suggesting a proven track record for this biological control method.
Concerns over the air potato's capacity to smother native plants, coupled with the difficulty of applying herbicides without affecting other vegetation, underscore the need for alternative control strategies. The beetles, which target all varieties of air potato without impacting related cultivated yams, represent a targeted approach to managing this invasive species. David Moverley from the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) remarked on the potential for natural enemies to alleviate the burden of managing air potato, thereby benefiting both the environment and local communities.
While the introduction of the beetles is not expected to eradicate the air potato, it aims to reduce its prevalence, necessitating measures to protect edible varieties. The initiative is part of the broader PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience programme, funded by New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and administered by SPREP, with additional support from the Global Environment Facility's Regional Invasives Project (GEF-6). This project not only addresses the air potato challenge in Niue but also sets a precedent for similar interventions across the Pacific.
Source: Post-Courier