Australian Forestry (2004) 67, 59-66

Helen F. Nahrung (2004)
Biology of Chrysophtharta agricola (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), a pest of Eucalyptus plantations in south-eastern Australia
Australian Forestry 67 (1), 59-66
Abstract: Chrysophtharta agricola (Chapuis) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a pest of eucalypt production forests in south-eastern Australia. Biological characteristics including high fecundity and adult longevity result in the production of large numbers of offspring, despite high levels of offspring mortality from natural enemies. Collection records for C. agricola indicate a host range of over 20 eucalypt species and a geographic distribution from northern New South Wales to southern Tasmania. This paper provides estimates of foliage consumption by larvae and reviews the biology of C. agricola, including its phenology, life stages and natural enemies. Each larva eats about 347 ± 20 mm³ of juvenile E. nitens foliage during its lifetime, with the fourth instar consuming more than half of this. Predators and parasitoids can cause significant mortality in C. agricola populations in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Helen F. Nahrung

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution
surveys/sampling/distribution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Paropsisterna agricola	Eucalypt (Eucalyptus)	Australia (South+SE)