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1080 Impacts on Invertebrates;

“New Zealand has a distinctive and diverse land
invertebrate fauna, with 22,000 arthropod species
described and at least that number again awaiting
discovery.”
“Approximately 80% of these species are endemic
being found nowhere else in the world. Less than 20%
of endemic species have adequate scientific
descriptions. Systematic studies on poorly known
groups are revealing the presence of many new
species, as well as species introduced mainly through
the actions of humans.”

• Landcare Research
  “New Zealand has an estimated 1,400 native species
  of slugs and snails – many of them endangered.”
• Te Ara, The New Zealand Encyclopaedia

Insect populations are rapidly declining globally,
largely due to habitat loss and pesticide use.
When poisons such as Sodium Monofluoroacetate (1080 poison) or
Brodifacoum are used the whole food chain is impacted. Whether aerially or
in bait stations, poisoned food-baits are not only consumed by targeted
species like rats and possums, but also by other native wildlife, including an
exceptionally large number of forest invertebrates. Secondary (or tertiary)
poisoning also occurs when non-target species, including invertebrates and
birds, come into contact with lethally (or sub-lethally) poisoned species, or
contaminated water.
This series of photos ( see the downloadable file below)was taken by a New Zealand bushman at night inside
several different 1080-poisoned ‘drop zones’ within the Wellington region.
They show over a dozen different types of invertebrates eating or climbing on
1080 poisoned baits that have been aerially dropped over the forests and
waterways. Some images show dead honey bees, spiders, different types of
weta, dead beetles and slugs with green dye (legally required in order to
identify the poison) clearly visible through their soft translucent bodies.

These poisoned baits persisted in the environment for months, while weta,
slugs, spiders, worms and other insects fed on the baits at night. The insects
became loaded with poison, making them a toxic meal for other native
species, including kiwi, fantails (piwakawaka), tomtits (miro miro), morepork
(ruru), weka, kingfisher (kotare), New Zealand robin (toutouwai) and more.
Rare native bats, gekos, frogs and tuatara also eat many different insects and
can suffer a fate of secondary poisoning.