What's eating my kauri?

Kauri (Agathis australis) faces kauri dieback disease (Phytophthora agathidicida) as its most critical threat, but in terms of pest animals, possums in New Zealand browse foliage and strip bark. Scale insects and guava moth can affect trees. Protecting root zones from soil compaction and introduced pathogens is the primary defence.

Foliage browsed from canopy; bark stripped from branches and trunk, causing girdling and crown dieback in young trees. Possum trapping and baiting programs in managed reserves. Tree guards on young specimens. Participating in regional pest control networks in NZ.

Whitish or brownish scales encrusting bark and stems; reduced vigour; bark distortion in heavy infestations. Horticultural oil sprays during crawler emergence. Avoid stressing host trees. Natural predators including parasitic wasps provide biological control.

Larvae bore into developing seed cones; seeds hollowed out; premature cone drop reducing regeneration. Difficult to control in garden settings. Physical removal of infested cones. Kauri forest management programs address at landscape scale.