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Weed Biocontrol articles

  1. Summer activities

    Summer is a busy time for many biocontrol agents, so you might need to schedule the following activities.

  2. A Seed-Damaging Fly for Moth Plant?

    A fly that feeds and develops inside the fruit pods of moth plant, completely destroying the seeds, is currently undergoing host range testing at our Tamaki containment facility in Auckland. The fly is the third candidate biocontrol agent for moth plant to be tested in New Zealand. A rust that infec...

  3. A Few Steps Closer With Nassella Tussock

    Just less than a year ago we revived efforts to search for effective fungal biocontrol agents for nassella tussock, and we are pleased to report that we have already made significant headway.

  4. Hieracium Biocontrol – 20 Years on

    Hieracium ([Hieracium] and [Pilosella] species) or hawkweeds, are perennial herbs in the plant family Asteraceae that have dandelion-like yellow flowers. They are serious pasture weeds in New Zealand that form dense mats of tight, interconnected rosettes, with thick underground root systems. Hieraci...

  5. Three for the Price of One in Chile

    Chantal Probst, our plant pathology technician, and Randall Milne (Environment Southland), travelled to Chile in November last year to collect starter cultures of the Darwin’s barberry rust (Puccinia berberidis-darwinii) and pampas floral smut (Ustilago quitensis). As is often the case, to maximise ...

  6. Buddleia Be Gone!

    Buddleia (Buddleja davidii) is native to China and is a serious weed in plantation forests, natural habitats and riparian areas in New Zealand, especially in the central North Island. Also commonly known as summer lilac or butterfly bush because of its showy, dense clusters of purple or white flower...

  7. Tale of the Scotch Thistle Gall Fly

    Scotch thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is one of the most common thistle weeds in New Zealand, being present in all regions of the country in a diversity of habitats. The weed is a prolific seed producer, with an average of 200 seeds per seedhead, and individual plants can produce over 50,000 seeds. Scotc...

  8. Spring Activities

    Most biocontrol agents become active during spring, making it a busy time of year to check release sites and move agents around.

  9. Who’s Who in Biological Control of Weeds?

    Alligator weed beetle
    (Agasicles hygrophila)
    Foliage feeder, common, often provides excellent control on static water bodies.
    Alligator weed beetle
    (Disonycha argentinensis)
    Foliage feeder, released widely in the early 1980s, failed to establish.
    Alligator weed moth
    (Macrorrhinia endonephele)
    ...

  10. Further reading & agents released table

    Gavin Loxton (left) and Lindsay Smith (right) at a Canterbury hieracium biocontrol site

    Further reading Clarkson B, Paynter Q, Winks C, Bartlam S, Watts C, Thornburrow D 2019. Best-practice guidelines for managing Tradescantia threats to native biodiversity. A research collaboration between BioHeri...