Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
Cotesia urabae still on the move
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.
From Forest Health News 237, June 2013.
In April this year (FH News 235) it was reported that Cotesia urabae, the parasitoid of Uraba lugens (gum leaf skeltoniser) that was first released by Scion in Auckland in January 2011, was found in Whangarei. This follows its release there later in 2011. It was also released at Tauranga but has not been recovered at this site.
It is on the move in Auckland as well. In January it was found in East Tamaki. The most likely source was the liberation of wasps made at the Manukau Memorial Gardens in South Auckland in mid 2011 which is about 6.5 km away. It is possible that the source was the original release site in the Auckland Domain, this is about 15 km away. More recently it has been found at One Tree Hill which is about 3.5 km from the Auckland Domain. Both the finds were made by Gonzalo Avila Oleson who is doing his PhD on Cotesia at the University of Auckland.
John Bain
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.)
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