Infestation of gorse pods by Cydia ulicetana and Exapion ulicis in the South Island of New Zealand

Abstract

The effectiveness of Cydia ulicetana (Haworth) (gorse pod moth) and Exapion ulicis (Förster) (gorse seed weevil) at reducing annual production of gorse seed (Ulex europaeus L.) was compared at six sites over the South Island, New Zealand. The highest percentage (45%) of pods damaged by C. ulicetana was at East Takaka in May 2002, and E. ulicis, was most effective at Lake Ohau (76%) in January 2003. The percentage of damaged pods fluctuated. Although there were climatic differences among sites, they did not differ signifi cantly in the proportion of gorse pods damaged by C. ulicetana. However, there was a signifi - cant seasonal difference (P <0.001) over all observations and C. ulicetana was responsible for damaging approximately 20% of gorse pods.