MELANIE JOSEFSSON SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 20151001 SUBMISSION OF

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MELANIE JOSEFSSON SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 20151001 SUBMISSION OF
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Melanie Josefsson

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency 2015-10-01


Submission of information on Invasive Alien Species Management from Sweden



ii. Experiences of the use of biological control agents against invasive alien species.



Biological control agents released to the environment for control of invasive alien species

Biological control agents for control of invasive alien species are currently being used for controlling the Spanish slug Arion vulgaris. Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, is a nematode is included in commercial products that are sold to the general public for general use in gardens. P. hermaphrodita is a bacteria eating nematode that is a lethal parasite of snails and slugs. P. hermaphrodita is also an alien species in Sweden. It is not specific to Arion vulgaris and thus may also affect snails and slugs in the Milacidae, Limacidae and Arionidae families.

Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita was approved for use as a molluscicide in 2008 by the Swedish Chemicals Inspection. It is widely used in southern and central Sweden where the Spanish slug is a problem. Experiences show that use of P. hermaphrodita is somewhat successful for controlling juvenile Spanish slug, but is not effective for adults.



No studies of the effects of the use of P. hermaphrodita on biological diversity in Sweden have been found in a literature search. It is probable that this biocontrol agent negatively affects populations of native snails and slugs, but it is difficult to distinguish between the effects of the molluscicide and effects of Arion vulgaris on native snails and slugs through predation and competition. Arion vulgaris also causes considerable economic damages to gardens and agriculture. It has a strong negative social impact on gardeners as considerable efforts are required to deal with Arion vulgaris infestations, including changing gardening practices and garden design. Infestations of Arion vulgaris may in some areas even affect property values. When approving P. hermaphrodita as a control agent of Arion vulgaris, the negative effects of Arion vulgaris on biological diversity and socioeconomic values were considered more significant than potential negative effects of P. hermaphrodita on biological diversity. Caution is however urged in spreading P. hermaphrodita.

Biological control agents released to the environment for control of invasive alien species in other countries in the region

The field trials with releasing the psyllid Aphalara itadori for control of the Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) is being followed with interest as the Reynoutria japonica and the Fallopia species are also a growing problem in Sweden.



Biological control of the invasive alien Spruce bark beetle Dendroctonus micans in Great Britain by the release of the host-specific predatory beetle, Rhizophagus grandis is considered an interesting and successful method which reduces the need for pesticides, but has not been done in Sweden.



Biological control agents released for control of pests, which may be invasive alien species

The use of biological control agents is an integral part of an integrated plant protection. More than 20 organisms, including macroorganisms such as nematodes, insects and spiders, have been approved for use as biological control agents in Sweden, of which most are alien species to Sweden. Many of the targets pests are also alien species that cause significant economic damage. Biological control agents are used in greenhouses for pest control and pollination and are particularly important for ecological cultivation in greenhouses. Most of the target pests are also alien species. It is considered likely that organisms used in biological control inside greenhouses will spread outside of the greenhouse environment. However, the risks that these organisms, which are most often native to tropical and temperate climate zones, will survive the winter and establish and spread outside in the natural environment are considered small and acceptable. These risks are always assessed in the approval process.

Biological control agents are used to a small degree in semi-enclosed cultivation tunnels. Nematodes and predatory mites are most commonly used especially in ecological cultivation. The risk for establishment and spread in the environment are considerably greater in cultivation tunnels than greenhouses. The organisms used in biological control in cultivation tunnels must be hardier, the number of organisms is much greater and access to the natural environment is not restricted; which are all factors which increase the risk for establishment. Another use of biological control agents outside of greenhouses is a parasitic Hymenoptera used for controlling flies in stables and barns.

Alien species and populations of bumblebees are imported and spread in the natural environment to assist in pollination. It is often difficult to identify what species is imported and spread. There are questions about if the alien bumblebees can hybridize with native bumblebees and what the effect on biological diversity would be should this occur. Proper marking and identification of the species with place of origin should be a minimum requirement for obtaining permission to import pollinators and to enable a research and monitoring on the effects for biological diversity of these introductions and spread.

Approval process for biological control agents

The use of biological control agents is generally encouraged as the use of pesticides can thereby be reduced. This enables Sweden to move towards fulfilling the environmental goal “A Non-toxic environment”. This environmental goal aims to reduce and minimize toxins in the environment, which is positive for biological diversity. It is however, essential that use of alien species for biological control does not threaten biological diversity by spreading to the environment and causing damage through herbivory, predation or competition with indigenous species.

There is no harmonized European Union legislation regulating the use of macroorganisms (nematodes, insects and spiders) for use in biological control or pollination. However, if the species could be become a pest, they could be regulated under the EU and national legislation for plant protection. Neither the EU legislation EG nr 1107/2009 on the placing of plant protection products on the market nor the EU biocides directive EU nr 528/2012 apply to nematodes, insects or spiders used in biological control. The European Union’s regulation 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species could in the future apply to specific invasive alien species used for biological control, should the species be identified as an IAS of union concern. There are no such species being considered as an IAS of union concern at present. National legislation must thus apply.

The process for approval of macroorganisms for use in biological control in Sweden is concentrated on determining if a species is alien to Sweden and if it could survive the winter, establish, spread and become invasive. Health risks for the people producing the agent and those who use the agent are also considered.

The Swedish legislation on approval of biological control agents is presently being revised to strengthen the assessments of risks that a biological control agent may have for biological diversity in the approval process for use.

The approval process has until now been based on the process and regulations for approving chemicals and carried out by the Swedish Chemicals Agency. A review of the approval process highlighted the need for a dedicated legislation on use of spiders, insects and nematodes in biological control to strengthen the approval process to the risks that they may have on biological diversity. A new national regulation on nematodes, insects and spiders for use as pesticide is presently being considered for adoption. Responsibility for the approval process would thus be moved to the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.



Decision support schemes for approval of organisms used in biological control

In the decision process for approval of organisms to be used in biological control, Sweden relies on guidance and standards developed by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)1 and the European Plant Protection Organization (EPPO). The International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) 11 is particularly helpful in assessing the risks for the environment and biological diversity. EPPO Standard PM 5/3(4) also gives clear guidance on assessing the risks of organisms used in biological control.

Availability of information about the species being considered for approval as a biological control agent is crucial. EPPO’s Panel on Safe Use of Biological Control publishes and annually updates a list of macroorganisms that are widely used within the regions and for which there are experiences of safe use for at least 5 years without any negative side effects. This list is a useful support for countries in their national approval process. A desired future development to further support a country’s approval process would be to strengthen and further specify the criteria pertaining to risks and potential risks for biodiversity of the organism used in biological control establishing invasive populations in the environment outside of human control. CABI’s Invasive Species Compendium is another excellent source of information to support decision making.





1 Primarily ISPM 3 Guidelines for the export, shipment, import and release of biological control agents and other beneficial organisms, but also ISPM 2:2007 and ISPM 11:2004 are helpful for assessing the risks of organisms to be used in biocontrol .


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