Farm Forestry New Zealand
PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND
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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 111, September 2001.
Following the discovery of the Australian gum leaf skeletoniser (Uraba lugens) in Auckland in early August (FHNews 110: 1), the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has contracted HortResearch (Max Suckling) to carry out work on identifying the insect's sex pheromone. Uraba was previously known only at Mt Maunganui where it was first found in 1997. Forest Research will supply viable eggs to enable HortResearch to start its own quarantine breeding population. This will provide the adults needed for the pheromone research work. If all goes well, the eggs will be obtained by mating adults that develop from larvae that were sent from Auckland to Forest Research for diagnosis. These larvae are being reared and bred on eucalypt foliage under strict quarantine. The object of the project is the production of a synthetic pheromone for monitoring the Uraba populations, and hopefully for confirming a successful eradication in the future.
John Bain, Forest Research
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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