Heather beetle plan gains support

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 618, 28 December 1995, Page 6

Heather beetle plan gains support

TheTongariro/Taupo Conservation Boardhas givenits approval in principle to the proposal to introduce a beetle into the national park to control the spread of heather. The proposal has been put by the Department of Conservation. Heather (Calluna vulgaris), a plant originally imported from Europe to create a habitat for grouse, today threatens native tussockland plants and the landscape which such indigenous plants provide. In 1912, heather was released into a restricted site in Tongariro National park and since then has spread throughout the park and beyond. DoC proposes to release the heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) to control the invasive ling heather. Following further approval from the New Zealand Conservation Authority this week, release of the beetle took another step toward reducing the heather invasion. Conservancy scientist, Harry Keys, told the board members at their December meeting "more research had been done into problems of heather and methods for controlling it than most other weed species". The Importation Impact Assessment concerning this exercise has been the latest of many documents prepared relating to heather and its control. Through scientific trials, it has been determined that the beetle is little

interested in native species. As heather plants are naturally occurring hosts to the beetle in Europe, Dr Keys does not predict that heather will be completely eradicated but that the beetles will restrict the spread and over time reduce heather density allowing native plants to recover.