Cyanogenic white clover as a proxy for GM biosafety testing using two New Zealand native insects

White clover with either high or zero hydrogen cyanide (HCN) levels were used as surrogates for genetically modified plants to investigate a test protocol and the suitability of two test insects for biosafety testing. Adult Nicaeana cervina (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and larvae reared from Zizina oxleyi (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) adults collected from field populations in ryegrass and white clover pasture were exposed to white clover plants which tested either positive or negative for HCN. Survival, feeding, larval weight (for Z. oxleyi) and fecundity (for N. cervina) were measured. Zizina oxleyi survival and larval weight for only one of four assessments over a 38-day period was higher on high cf. zero HCN plants. Larval weight and developmental time to pupation was consistently lower for offspring from of the three parent butterflies than the other two irrespective of food plant. Few significant treatment effects were found with N. cervina although weevil feeding was reduced on high cf. zero HCN plants. The white clover plants in the pasture from which the insects were sourced were found to be about 54% positive for HCN. Both test insect species were considered suitable for biosafety assays with GM white clover, and the importance of considering genotype of test insects was discussed.