New Zealand Journal of Forestry (2012) 56(4): 46–47
©New Zealand Institute of Forestry

Letter to the Editor
1080 Impacts on Invertebrate Populations: a Review and Response to Benfield (2011)

Eric B. Spurr



Sir In the previous issue featuring articles about the use of 1080 for possum control, Benfield (2011) expressed concern about the impacts of aerial application of 1080 on non-target invertebrate populations (as distinct from impacts on individual invertebrates). He cited selected studies undertaken at least 15 years ago, but failed to present the findings of more recent research. Below I provide a brief summary of studies I am aware of published from 1994 onwrds. Spurr (1994a presented the results of two pitfall trapping studies that might be considered replicates. The experimental design in both studies involved monitoring monthly for 1 year before and up to 6 months after aerial application of 1080, in poison and no-poison areas. Both studies showed no detectable impacts on the numbers of mites, amphipods, spiders, beetles, collembolans, millipedes, ants, snails, slugs, and weta collected in traps.
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