Biology of the Eucalyptus leaf beetle Paropsisterna selmani (Chrysomelidae: Paropsini): a new pest of Eucalyptus species (Myrtaceae) in Ireland. (22nd October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fanning, Philip D.; Baars, Jan‐Robert
• Is Part Of: Agricultural and forest entomology. Volume 16:Number 1(2014:Feb.)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 53
• Publication Date: 2013-10-22
• Subjects: Insect pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Agricultural pests -- Control -- Periodicals; Forest insects -- Control -- Periodicals; 632.7
• DOI: 10.1111/afe.12032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-9555

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="afe12032-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p id="afe12032-para-0001"> <list list-type="order"> <list-item> <p>The biology of the <italic>Eucalyptus</italic> leaf beetle <italic>Paropsisterna selmani</italic> (de Little) (Chrysomelidae: Paropsini) was assessed in the field and under laboratory conditions. The invasive species, most probably from Tasmania, severely defoliates the new flush foliage of several <italic>Eucalyptus</italic> species in Ireland.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The adult beetles and larvae both fed on the foliage and caused typical broom‐top damage to trees. Adult beetles over‐wintered in the soil and emerged in April and laid egg batches of approximately seven eggs on the leaves. Teneral adults were most noticeable in late June and July.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>In bioassays, the life cycle took approximately 26 days to complete at 20 °C, and survival rates were approximately 67% when fed on <italic>E. parvula</italic>. Teneral adults took 13.3 days to initiate egg‐laying. Leaf consumption was highest in female larvae, and adult beetles consumed a leaf area of approximately 102 mm<sup>2</sup>/day.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>A mean daily egg‐laying rate of 11.4 eggs/female was recorded over a period of 130 days. This egg‐laying rate is comparable to other leaf beetles attaining pest status in other <italic>Eucalyptus</italic>‐growing regions.</p> </list-item> <list-item> <p>The biology of <italic>Pt. selmani</italic> suggests that this will be a significant pest of <italic>Eucalyptus</italic> species grown for cut‐foliage and forestry in Ireland. It also poses a potential threat to eucalypt‐growing regions in the U.K. and mainland Europe.</p> </list-item> </list> </p> </abstract>