Generalist Entomopathogens as Biological Indicators of Deforestation and Agricultural Land Use Impacts on Waikato Soils

New Zealand Journal of Ecology (1998) 22(2): 189-196 ©New Zealand Ecological Society limitation on the sustainability of pastoral land use in New Zealand and this issue has been heightened by recent resource management legislation (Blaschke et al., 1992). In contrast, there have been few investigations on the effects of forest removal on the New Zealand soil fauna (Yeates, 1991). Contraction in distributional range has been a presumptive consequence of deforestation for many soil invertebrates dependent on forest cover but data has been available for only a few taxa (eg., earthworms; Lee, 1959, 1961). Most conservation effort has focused on the flora and fauna of the remaining natural forest habitats, and as a consequence no information is available on loss of indigenous biodiversity associated with deforestation and establishment of agricultural practices. Following the conversion of forest land to pasture, several indigenous insects have become widespread and abundant in pastures. These include Costelytra zealandica (White), Pyronota festiva (F.), Odontria spp. (Scarabaeidae), Irenimus aequalis (Broun) (Curculionidae), Wiseana spp. (Hepialidae), and Persectania aversa (Walker) (Noctuidae). Their feeding can severely reduce the productive life of pasture. Remnant forest areas have been shown to be Introduction