Paropsine chrysomelid attack on plantations of Eucalyptus nitens in Tasmania

Of the 36 species of paropsine chrysomelids occurring naturally on eucalypts in Tasmania, five species have been observed attacking the introduced eucalypt, E. nitens (Deane et Maiden) Maiden, which is the main eucalypt species used in commercial plantations in Tasmania. The chrysomelids are Paropsis porosa Erichson on seedlings; Chrysophtharta agricola (Chapuis) on juvenile foliage; and C. bimaculata (Olivier), P. delittlei Selman, and P. charybdis Stal on adult foliage. To date C. bimaculata has been the most significant pest causing extensive and severe defoliation on several occasions to E. nitens plantations in northern Tasmania. A preliminary appraisal has been made of the significance of attack experienced to date for plantation growth rates. With current planting rates of E. nitens at about 3500 ha per annum and likely to increase in the future, integrated control and resistance breeding programmes are needed to keep these pests in check