Because of the enormous environmental damage being caused by rubber vine, the lack of other practical control methods or other potential agents, and in view of the fact that the survival of the native vine was severely threatened by the continued spread of rubber vine, the decision was taken to release the moth. The decision process for release of a biological control agent in Australia involves conservation authorities in each State (McFadyen 1998), and in this case the application included letters from the Queensland Department of the Environment (now Environmental Protection Agency) strongly supporting the application.

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