Suitability of Agonopterix ulicetella (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) as a Control for Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in New Zealand

The larvae of Agonopterix ulicetella (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae) feed on the green foliage of gorse, Ulex europaeus L., and this insect is a potential biological control agent of this weed in New Zealand. The biology of the insect is described and its known parasitoids are listed. In experiments to measure oviposition preference, 46 plant species from 11 families were exposed to adult moths. Gorse was highly preferred over other plants, and there was no oviposition on 33 species tested. Eggs were found on Spartium junceum, Chamaecytisus palmensis, Lupinus arboreus, L. polyphyllus, Genista tinctoria and occasionally on eight other species. In experiments to measure the ability of first instar larvae to feed on 70 test plant species, 59 did not support development beyond the first instar and only seven species supported development to the pupal stage. These results show that under laboratory conditions this moth can lay its eggs and complete development on five members of the tribe Genisteae other than gorse. A. ulicetella was released in New Zealand in 1990 but has not yet established.