Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds

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Summary

• Worldwide distribution. On Erythrina species. There are more than 100 species worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical countries, and they are used as ornamentals, living fences, and also as shade trees. An important pest.
• Eggs are laid in the shoots, and larvae cause leaves to deform and fall; repeated attacks cause dieback and tree death. Seedlings attacked, leading to species loss.
• Spread occurs by flight on the wind and, perhaps, on leaves on boats and planes.
• Natural enemies: parasitoid wasp collected in Africa, introduced and found effective in Hawaii.
• Cultural control: none recommended..
• Chemical control: none recommended, except imidacloprid injection of especially valuable trees. [Note, in some countries, control is controversial: Erythrina is the food of fruit piercing moth larvae, in others it is a valuable native tree.]