Novel biotechnologies for eradicating wasps: seeking Māori studies students’ perspectives with Q method

Figures & data

Table 1. In-brief explanations of the principles and applications for the five biotechnological controls under investigation.

Biotechnological control	Principle	Potential application in wasp control
Artificial Pheromones	Pheromones are chemical substances produced and released to communicate with (or affect the behaviour and physiology of) members within the same species.	Artificial pheromone could be used to lure wasps into traps, disrupt developmental cycle or mating behaviour. An artificial sex pheromone, for example, might stop males from finding and mating with queen wasps.
Trojan mites for biological control	A mite, Pneumolaelaps niutirani, was discovered in 2011 by a NZ researcher. Wasps nests infested with these mites were found to be generally smaller, diseased, and less aggressive than mite-free nests.	These mites could be used as a biological control agent to transmit a pathogen of wasps. Other biological control agents lay eggs in or on wasp larvae. Hatched eggs feeding on the larvae restrict wasp colony growth.
RNA Interference (RNAi)	RNA interference (RNAi) is a gene silencing mechanism triggered by providing double-stranded RNA. When ingested into insects, this RNA can lead to death or affect the viability of the target pest. RNAi is a natural cellular defence process.	Researchers have been using RNAi with a number of crop pests, for example to stop gene associated with juvenile development. This is not a ‘genetic modification’ of wasp DNA. It could be used to stop wasps reproducing.
Trojan female	In many populations, naturally occurring mutations occur in mutations inherited mitochondrial DNA. These mutation means females produce sterile males, without affecting the female carrying them.	Large numbers of female wasps carrying natural mitochondrial mutations could be reared and released. The idea is that a female and her daughters would produce sterile males over multiple generations, leading to a steady population decline.
Gene drive	‘Gene drives’ rely on the genetic modification of an organism’s DNA by scientists. Gene drives dramatically promote the inheritance of a particular gene to increase its frequency in a population.	A genetically engineered trait or characteristic, such as susceptibility to disease or infertility, can be driven through several generations. Laboratory studies have shown gene drives can affect entire populations.

Note: Longer variations of these were given to participants in a 5-page primer.

Table 2. Statements upon which factors (participant groupings) showed consensus, according to PQ Method analysis.

Consensus statements	ID	Z-scores
		Factor 1	Factor 2	Factor 3
I trust the government to only implement wasp biocontrols if demonstrated to be safe	5	−1.06	−1.23	−1.62
Wasp biocontrols would enhance the Maori economy (eg beekeeping)	6	0.61	−0.06	0.58
Wasp biocontrols would enhance the NZ economy (eg tourism)	7	−0.11	−0.14	0.58
We’ve learnt enough from GMO’s to proceed with wasp biocontrols	9	−1.39	−1.21	−0.75
Wasp biocontrols would enhance Maori kaitiakitanga	10	0.52	0.12	1.12
NZ’s wasp biocontrol research should be used outside of NZ	12	−0.02	−0.66	−0.40
Wasp biocontrols should only be used if demonstrated to be safe	14	0.87	1.21	1.75
Tangata whenua/Maori opinions count in the decision whether to use wasp biocontrols	16	1.17	1.43	1.22
Matauranga Maori has an important role to play in wasp biocontrols	22	1.21	1.78	1.25
The government should invest more funding into wasp biocontrols	23	0.29	0.95	0.35

Notes: The ID column is the number of the statement. Z-scores give an indication of the degree to which participants agreed (+ve) or disagreed (−ve) with the given statements.

Table 3. Three Factors (participant groupings) emerged from Q Method analysis.

Factor/cluster	Sorts/participants	Distinguishing statements	ID	Z-score	F1	F2	F3
1	2A, 3S, 4C, 4J*, 4S	Wasp biocontrols will be a crucial step toward a Predator-Free 2050 I am comfortable with research being done on wasp biocontrols Wasp biocontrols are more humane than traditional wasp controls I know enough about wasp biocontrols to make an informed decision My opinion counts in the decision whether to use wasp biocontrols	19 20 24 17 15	1.59 1.37 0.81 0.31 −0.01		−0.16 −1.03 −0.40 −0.57 0.77	0.11 −0.13 0.03 −1.49 −0.77
2	PA, 1A*, 1T	My opinion counts in the decision whether to use wasp biocontrols Wasps can be eradicated from Aotearoa without biocontrols Wasp biocontrols should never be used outside the laboratory Aotearoa’s environment would be degraded if we used wasp biocontrols I know enough about wasp biocontrols to make an informed decision Wasp biocontrol research would be positive for me and my whānau I am comfortable with research being done on wasp biocontrols	15 1 21 2 17 11 20	0.77 0.71 0.40 0.31 −0.57 −1.01 −1.03	−0.01 −1.26 −0.79 −1.15 0.31 0.39 1.37		−0.77 −1.14 −0.72 −1.09 −1.49 0.53 −0.13
3	2K, 3M*, 3N	Scientists communicate effectively about wasp biocontrol research I trust scientists to develop ethical wasp biocontrols Wasp biocontrols should only be used in NZ with a social licence I am comfortable with research being done on wasp biocontrols My consent to pest wasp biocontrols is consent for biocontrols generally My opinion counts in the decision whether to use wasp biocontrols I know where to go to find information about wasp biocontrols I know enough about wasp biocontrols to make an informed decision	4 3 13 20 8 15 18 17	1.48 1.19 0.37 −0.13 −0.54 −0.77 −1.46 −1.49	−1.57 −0.88 1.25 1.37 −1.62 −0.01 0.04 0.31	−1.09 −1.05 1.92 −1.03 −1.66 0.77 0.54 −0.57

Notes:  Column 3 shows the statements unique to each factor. Column 2 shows the participants whose sorts are consistent with each factor. Participant codes with asterisks denotes a defining sort, i.e. the participant who most strongly represents the factor. The Z-Scores column indicates the degree to which each factor agreed (+ve) or disagreed (−ve) with the given statements. The final three columns present Z-Scores for the other factors: F1 is factor 1, F2 factor 2 and F3 factor 3.

Table 4. Mean/average, median and standard deviation of likert scale rankings of preferred pest control methods for rats and wasps.

Control options	Rats			Wasps
	Mean	Median	Std Dev	Mean	Median	Std Dev
Do nothing	−1.92	−2	1.08	−3.0	−3	0.95
Manual extraction	0.58	0.5	1.68	−0.58	−1	1.83
Non-species-specific poison	−2.42	−3	0.79	−3.58	−4	0.51
Species-specific poison eg vespex	1.33	1.5	1.67	0.33	0	2.23
Trojan-mite	0.58	1	1.73	0.83	1	2.12
RNAi	0.83	1	1.64	1.08	1	2.27
Gene drive	1.00	1	1.60	2.17	2.5	1.64
Trojan female	–	–	–	1.17	2	2.17
Pheromone lure	–	–	–	1.50	1.5	1.88

Note: Participants were given all five biotechnological control methods only for the wasps scenario.

Table 5. A summary of reasons given by participants for their support of the five novel biotechnological controls, as well as indicative participant comments.

Biotechnological control	Comment themes	Example comments
Pheromone	Natural Specificity Familiarity Benign way to attract wasps to a trap Low collateral damage	I felt I guess [you’re] less likely to have collateral damage with it. 1T I think those are the ones I guess that are effective to at least some extent and the technologies are probably understood. 2T  … just the word pheromones, and I was like ooh, that’s interesting. And I was just sorta like … that’s almost like sorta using nature 3M I like the pheromone idea in the sense that it’s almost a natural process 4S
Trojan mite	Natural predator Not GM	… most acceptable, because you’re not affecting anything on the genetic-cellular level 1P  … the Trojan mite was seen as the ‘natural enemy’ 1T I kinda chose the Trojan mite ‘cause as you say it replicated the natural world a little bit. 2K
RNAi	Humane Natural process Specificity Control	I really agree that we should do that RNA process, ‘cause it seems sort of natural 2A I’ve got the RNA interference at the top which is kind of like the most kind of humane kind of interruption 3N These gene silencing things that I’ve got on my agree end of the spectrum seem to be a little bit more humane if we are going to go and, you know, kill off a bunch of wasps 3S
Trojan Female technique	Specificity Control Represents the feminine Reminiscent of te Ao Māori Name resonates	I agree that we should have some sort of technique like about the woman. Like where the woman gives and takes away the life. Just because in Te Ao Māori the women is the whare tangata, like she is the bringer of the life. And that’s probably why I agree with the gene drive or the RNA one, ‘cause it’s such a Te Ao Māori perspective and understanding anyway. 2A I like the specificity of the Trojan female [technique] … the point is to cull out the reproduction situation 4S
Gene drives	Permanence Specificity Control Ecologically contained	If I’m thinking pest-free then I went to the gene drive end as the most agreeable, yeah. And the [most permanent] long term result 4C  … gene drive doesn’t introduce another life form 4C To me the gene drives are almost fool-proof in the sense that they’re either gonna work or they’re gonna fail 4S

Table 6. A summary of reasons given by participants for their lack of support for the five novel biotechnological controls, as well as indicative participant comments.

Biotechnological control	Comment themes	Example comments
Pheromone	Impermanent Requires continued manual labour	The pheromones and Trojan stuff is seasonal you know … you gotta do it all of the time 4C I mean that’s talking about manual processes and stuff, which is the pheromone, the nest removal  …  it’s just not going to happen. People like to commit and then not commit to those [actions] 4S
Trojan mite	Violence Impermanent Introduced pests becoming pests	There’s some creepy mites out there that do some crazy things. It’s nature, but … PA First Nations were given blankets for small pox, and it decimated them. That’s what the Trojan mite reminded me of 3N We’re introducing another pest, on top of another pest, on top of another pest. So we’re just bringing in another introduced species, which I don’t like either. 4C Introducing a disease carrying mite into a wasp nest … I don’t know about that, like, using another species and having it’s sole purpose to be to go in and kill the wasps 4J
RNAi	Impermanent Perceived as GM Removing fertility	I just feel like with infertility, I don’t feel right with taking that from any of them. 1T Yeah RNA, it’s too invasive in my mind, which is weird because the gene drive’s definitely the most [way out] [laughter] like it’s way  …  I dunno, to me [RNA]’s too stop-start. 4S
Trojan Female technique	GM Ethically challenging Impermanent Removing fertility	I just don’t feel comfortable …  it feels weird taking away someone’s ability to reproduce. Like I don’t think that should be something that we have control over. 1A The Trojan female always sounds really like cool to me, but also like it sounded like the most ethically challenging 3N
Gene drives	GM A new and uncertain technological frontier Pest control demands Most controversial Could escape beyond NZ	You kind of worry about whether or not it’s going to get out of the country, cos it’s native somewhere else, but the benefits outweigh all of that. 4C Pest control has got so out of control, beyond human ability to be able to prevent it, that we’re having to actually delve into, you know, like, how we’re made. But worrying that it’s got to a point where we’re actually having to turn to that technology to have to deal with it. 4S