Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine) - Biosecurity New Zealand

mean oviposition period was 7 days, with a mean fecundity of 434 eggs. H. puera has five
larval instars; the first- and second-instars feeding mainly on the leaf surface and protecting
themselves in a shallow depression on the leaf covered with strands of silk. Starting with the
third-instar, the larva feeds from within leaf folds. The entire leaf, excluding the major veins,
is eaten. Early instars cannot feed successfully on old, tough leaves. Under optimal
conditions, the larval period lasts 10 to 12 days, but an average of 21 days has been recorded
in the cooler climates.
Mature larvae usually descend from the tree crown to the ground on silk threads and pupate
under a thin layer of leaf litter or soil, within a loosely built cocoon made of dry leaf pieces or
soil particles held together with silk. During the rainy season, when the ground is wet, or in
mangroves, pupation may occur within folded or juxtaposed green leaves of the host or nonhost
plants in the undergrowth. Under optimal conditions the average pupal period is 6 to 8
days, but it may extend to 20 to 25 days in cooler climates. There is no evidence of
hibernation or aestivation of the pupae.
The development from first-instars to adult is completed in a minimum of 18 to 19 days and a
maximum of 36 days. A new batch of eggs can be produced in approximately 2 days, thus
giving a minimum generation time of 20 to 21 days together with the egg stage. In areas
where there is a distinct winter season with chances of occasional frost, the number of
generations is reduced to ten, with a partial eleventh. Here the moths are believed to
hibernate for a period of approximately 3 months over the coldest period, but no details of the
hibernation behaviour or the places of hibernation have been reported.
Nipaecoccus sp.(viridis): Mealybug (pseudococcid)
The true mealybugs are the second most injurious family of Coccoidea. Most of these sap
sucking insects feed on aerial plant parts but some occur on roots or under bark. About 2000
species have been described. They are characterized by a covering of white, mealy wax over
the body of the sessile stages. The ephemeral males are up to 3 mm long; females are slightly
longer and are sessile unless disturbed; they live for several months. Eggs may be laid under
white woolly wax secreted from the female's abdomen. Crawlers of a few species have been
shown to be inefficient virus vectors.
Mature females lay eggs that hatch one to two months later. The crawlers migrate and settle
mainly in protected areas, under the sepals of the fruitlets when they are pea-sized or larger.
Adults often settle in cryptic places on plant material, such as under sepals of citrus fruits,
and can easily be distributed on exported plants or plant products (Hattingh et al., 1998).
Hattingh et al. (1998) described and illustrated the effect of Nipaecoccus viridis on citrus in
South Africa. Feeding on young twigs causes bulbous outgrowths, and heavy infestations
may severely stunt the growth of young trees. Occasionally, this mealybug becomes so
abundant on citrus that the branches and leaves become covered with white cottony threads.
Also, the leaves and other parts of the tree become shining wet with honeydew which
becomes a substrate for sooty mould growth. Citrus fruits infested with N. viridis may
develop lumpy outgrowths or raised shoulders near the stem end. Such swellings are already
present on fruit from the size of a pea, and they enlarge with the growth of the fruit.
Frequently, fruits turn yellow and then partly black around the stem end, finally dropping off
the tree. Late infestations on large green fruits result in congregations of young mealybugs in
Page 36 of 193 14 March 2008 Import Risk Analysis: Wollemia nobilis (Wollemi Pine) Araucariaceae Nursery Stock from Australia