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Weed Biocontrol articles

  1. A Travel Bubble Spells Freedom for a Long-Awaited Beetle for the Cook Islands

    The opening of New Zealand’s travel bubble with the Cook Islands was welcome news for many. For one thing, it meant the long-awaited first release of the African tulip tree flea beetle (Paradibolia coerulea) could finally take place. After an extended stay in containment both in South Africa and at ...

  2. Beetling Ahead with Chilean Flame Creeper

    Despite being a spanner in the works for many of our weed biocontrol projects, Covid hasn’t halted progress on exploring biocontrol options for Chilean flame creeper (Tropaeolum speciosum). After a promising leaf-feeding chrysomelid beetle (Blaptea elguetai) was found on this new target weed in Chil...

  3. Identity Crisis for a Weed of the Pacific

    Taro vine, also known as Devil’s ivy, is a perennial epiphyte (a plant that uses another plant as a substrate) of tropical and subtropical regions that has become invasive in many countries and territories in the Pacific, including the Cook Islands, Hawai’i, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Samo...

  4. Spring Activities

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

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

    Comprehensive list of weed biocontrol agents under investigation at Manaaki Whenua.

  6. All Systems Are Go for Multi-weed Biocontrol

    A new and exciting multi-weed biocontrol programme targetting weeds that affect all of New Zealand has been funded and will run for the next three years.

  7. Further Reading and Agents Released

    Latest weed biocontrol research publications.

  8. Improved Establishment Success of Heather Beetles, 25 Years Post Release

    The heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) has population outbreaks in its native range in the United Kingdom, periodically causing devastating and unwanted damage to vast swathes of its host plant, heather (Calluna vulgaris).

  9. Weeds of the Future: The Survey of Rural Decision Makers Provides a Glimpse

    The Survey of Rural Decision Makers is a leading source of information on New Zealand’s food and fibre sector.

  10. Weed Biocontrol New Faces

    Temo Talie

    Temo joined MWLR in January 2021 as programme co-ordinator of the Natural Enemies Natural Solutions (NENS) programme, which aims to develop weed biocontrol agents for high-priority weeds in Pacific Island countries and territories. Temo is currently based at our Tamaki site in Auckland, ...