Description
Pōhutukawa leaf miner is a New Zealand native weevil that is considered a minor pest for established trees but may cause significant aesthetic damage in a nursery. Adults are brown in colour and about 3 millimetres long. They may fly if disturbed. Larvae are white grubs with no legs and a brown head.
Common native plant hosts
| Scientific names | Māori/common names |
|---|---|
| Metrosideros spp. | Pōhutukawa, rāta |
Scientific names
Metrosideros spp.
Māori/common names
Pōhutukawa, rāta
Symptoms and damage
Pōhutukawa leaf miner adults chew small round or oval shaped holes in leaves. If the leaves are mature the holes remain small, if the leaf is actively growing the holes become larger as the leaf continues to grow. The larvae tunnel into leaves forming mines. Feeding damage may cause leaves to die.
High populations of adult pōhutukawa leaf miner can cause damage to new growth on Metrosideros spp.
Prevention and control tips
Chemical insecticides.