Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
New insect Macarostola ida
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 287.
Macarostola ida (Gracillariidae), a tiny beautifully-patterned moth originating from Australia, is another new to New Zealand. It has been observed emerging from serpentine-shaped leaf mines in leaves of Eucalyptus sp. The mines differ from those of Acrocercops laciniella (black butt leaf miner) and Phylacteophaga froggatti (leaf blister sawfly). They are much thinner, do not coalesce into a blotch mine, and when the larvae exit the mine they create a leaf roll that they pupate in. It is possible that this little moth has been in New Zealand for some time, as a look back through old records has revealed that empty mines fitting this description were seen ten years ago. Moths have been successfully reared from the mines this summer from an Auckland park by Stephen Thorpe. It is not known if it will reach pest status.
Toni Withers and Stephanie Sopow (Scion)
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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