Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Trachymela catenata
Scion is the leading provider of forest-related knowledge in New Zealand
Formerly known as the Forest Research Institute, Scion has been a leader in research relating to forest health for over 50 years. The Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute continues to provide science that will protect all forests from damage caused by insect pests, pathogens and weeds. The information presented below arises from these research activities.
TRACHYMELA CATENATA
From Forest health News No. 29, March 1994
Paul Barrett of Massey University is continuing his study of this recent introduction on Eucalyptus spp. (viminalis group). Two sites are monitored monthly. The life cycle appears similar but a little slower than Paropsis. Pupation takes place in the duff layer and peak prepupal numbers were recorded in January. Larval feeding and oviposition on flushed foliage tends to be concentrated on the 3rd-5th leaf pair from the tip. Enoggera apparently has little interest in T. catenata. (Nod Kay )
New Trachymela sp.
From Forest health News No. 16, January 1993
On the 12 December 1992, during a routine port inspection of Gisbome, MOF Forest Health Officers collected a previously unrecorded paropsine beetle (identified by C. Reid ANU as Trachymela catenata) from Eucalyptus species. NZFRI staff joined MOF staff (A. Zandvoort, C. Barr and D. Rawcliffe) at Gisbome on 15 December to survey the spread and the hosts of this new Australian introduction.
Contiguous populations of Trachymela catenata were found up to 40 km south of Gisbome (Morere) and 40 km north west of Gisbome (Otoko). Trachymela catenata was found on E. macarthurii x viminalis , E. macarthurii x botryoides and E. globulus , it was not found on E. nicholi , E. ficifolia, E. leucoxylon , E. botryoides, E. nitens or E. regnans. Australian records indicate a wider host range than that found here.
Sympatric populations of Paropsis charybdis were present on the same hosts and P. charybdis eggs found were parasitised by Ennogera nassaui . However, no eggs of Trachymela sp. were found to be parasitised. One adult T. sloanei was found in Gisbome which represents a new location record. All life stages of T. catenata except pupae, were found on the host foliage during daylight. Eggs were found attached to newly flushed foliage in short single lines of 5-10 eggs (cf Paropsis ). Larvae were found on flushed and older foliage but most damage was on flushed foliaged. Moderate numbers of larvae and adults were found but damage to the host trees was not very noticeable. It may well be that T. catenata has been present for some time in Gisbome but its effects and oviposition sites may have been overwhelmed by P. charybdis . With the recent control of P. charybdis by E. nassaui it may be that there is a greater food resource now available to lesser species such as T. catenata and Gonipterus. Eradication attempts do not seem feasible or warranted. A student at Massey is about to take up the biology etc. of the new beast as a thesis project. (Malcolm Kay)
This information is intended for general interest only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific specialist advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose. Scion will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, loss of profits, or any other intangible losses that result from using the information provided on this site.
(Scion is the trading name of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited.)
NZFFA on facebook