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Native insects cause tree defoliation in East Gippsland

A large area of State forest west of Orbost and around the Bonang Highway north of Orbost have been damaged by native insects.

By Department of Sustainability and Environment - 3rd November 2003 - Back to News

The leaves have been eaten by larvae of native moth species, causing temporary defoliation. Trees of the affected eucalypts (mainly White Stringybark and River Peppermint) can have the appearance of being scorched brown, as if by fire.

Examination of leaf samples by a Department of Sustainability and Environment Entomologist has identified the damaging species as Cup Moth (Doratifera sp.) and the Gumleaf Skeletoniser (Uraba lugens). Both are native insect species that have been observed in the past, causing localised severe defoliation in native forests on an infrequent basis.

DSE Entomologist Nick Collett said that such outbreaks tend to be short-term in nature, although their immediate effects can be quite severe. He said that based on observations made of similar outbreaks in the past by native insects in native forests, most eucalypts will recover their crowns by production of new shoots from the branches in the near future.

"Unless trees are subjected to frequent ongoing defoliation, most should make a full recovery apart from some isolated trees that might be under other forms of stress such as drought and old age," Mr Collett said.

"Both these species of insects generally have two generations per year. With the Cup Moth, the first larval generation is from approximately October to December and the second from January and February to late March so it can be assumed that Cup Moth related defoliation may get progressively worse over summer/autumn of 2003-04 before it starts to get better."

Mr Collett said that as both are native insects on native trees, control options are limited. Chemical sprays are probably unnecessary as the majority of affected trees should make a recovery back to full health.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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