Neurozerra conferta, Walker, 1856

Chi, Nguyen Minh, Huong, Vu Dinh, Pham, Duy Long, Binh, Le Van, Luu, Nguyen Van, Ha, Kieu Manh, Loi, Vu Van & Yakovlev, Roman V., 2022, Neurozerra conferta (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) damaging Melaleuca plantations in Vietnam and its biological control, Ecologica Montenegrina 60, pp. 13-24 : 17

Symptoms of Neurozerra conferta damage in Melaleuca trees

N. conferta was associated with tree damage and stem breakage. Infested M. leucadendra and M. cajuputi trees have circle holes with a diameter of 0.7–0.8 cm in the boles, located 10–150 cm above ground. There are many droppings around the base of the damaged trees ( Fig. 3a, b ). Droppings are discrete, semi-circular faeces, white at first, then yellow, dark yellow and brown. The tunnels go straight into the boles and then vertically up the centre of the stem. The tunnels are circular, 0.7–0.9 cm in diameter, 16–39 cm long ( Fig. 3c ). Before pupating, the larvae often create wide burrows (10–13 cm in length and 1.5–3.6 mm in width) in the boles. Severely damaged trees can have 3– 6 larvae in the bole, and trees can break in the wind.

Figures

Figure 3. Symptoms of Neurozerra conferta in Melaleuca leucadendra: a plantation with damaged trees; b damaged tree; c damage to the wood.