Parasitic wasp is unlikely to establish and spread in Norway

Thus concludes the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food and Environment (VKM).

Background

VKM has assessed the environmental risk of using the product Citripar in Norway. The risk assessment was carried out at the request of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority.

Citripar, a product for biological control, is being sought for approval for use in Norway. The product contains the parasitic wasp Anagyrus vladimiri and is intended to be used against mealybugs, especially the species Planococcus citri and P. ficus, on fruits, berries, vegetables, and herbs in greenhouses and plastic tunnels, as well as on indoor plants.

Conclusions

There have been no reported observations of Anagyrus vladimiri in Norway.

VKM assesses that Anagyrus vladimiri will not be able to establish and spread in Norway under current conditions. Anagyrus vladimiri will have no effect on biological diversity in Norway, as there are no known native host organisms that the wasp can parasitize.

Individuals of what is now known as Anagyrus vladimiri were for many years identified as belonging to the species Anagyrus pseudococci. Anagyrus pseudococci and A. vladimiri belong to a complex of species that are almost impossible to distinguish from each other and are informally referred to as the Anagyrus pseudococci complex.

"Should misidentified Anagyrus wasps be imported to Norway, it will have no further consequences for biological diversity, since the species that A. vladimiri can be confused with are also host-specific to genera that do not exist in Norwegian fauna and are not physiologically adapted to the current Norwegian climate,” says Johan Stenberg.

The risk assessment is approved by VKM's Panel on Plant Health.

VKM provides independent scientific assessments of issues that are important for the environment and safe food. VKM does not give advice or take a position on how the risk should be managed. We can investigate the consequences of various action alternatives, but it is the commissioner who decides on the management.