Citrus is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Plants in the genus produce citrus fruits, including important crops such as oranges, lemons, grapefruits, pomelos, and limes. The genus Citrus is native to South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and Australia. Various citrus species have been utilized and domesticated by indigenous cultures in these areas since ancient times. From there its cultivation spread into Micronesia and Polynesia by the Austronesian expansion ; and to the Middle East and the Mediterranean via the incense trade route, and onwards to Europe.
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. It can be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs.
Sodium fluoroacetate is an organofluorine chemical compound with the formula FCH2CO2Na. This colourless salt has a taste similar to that of sodium chloride and is used as a metabolic poison. Both sodium and potassium salts are derivatives of fluoroacetic acid.
A number of introduced species, some of which have become invasive species, have been added to New Zealand's native flora and fauna. Both deliberate and accidental introductions have been made from the time of the first human settlement, with several waves of Polynesian people at some time before the year 1300, followed by Europeans after 1769.
The light brown apple moth is a leafroller moth belonging to the lepidopteran family Tortricidae.
A leaf miner is any one of numerous species of insects in which the larval stage lives in, and eats, the leaf tissue of plants. The vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths (Lepidoptera), sawflies, and flies (Diptera), though some beetles also exhibit this behavior.
The common brushtail possum is a major agricultural and conservation pest in New Zealand.
Nyctemera annulata, the magpie moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. The species was first described by Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1832. It is endemic to New Zealand and found in all parts of the country.
Prays parilis, the lemon bud moth, is a moth of the family Plutellidae. The species was first described by Alfred Jefferis Turner in 1923. It is found in Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands.
Stenotus binotatus is a species of plant bug, originally from Europe, but now also established across North America and New Zealand. It is 6–7 mm (0.24–0.28 in) long, yellowish, with darker markings on the pronotum and forewings. It feeds on various grasses, and can be a pest of crops such as wheat.
Planotortrix octo is a moth of the family Tortricidae. It is endemic to New Zealand, where it is found in both the North and South islands.
Wiseana copularis is a species of moth belonging to the family Hepialidae. It is endemic to New Zealand. This moth is one of several very similar looking species within the genus Wiseana and this group are collectively referred to as "Porina" moths. In its larvae form this species consumes pasture grasses and, if numerous, is regarded as a pest by New Zealand farmers reliant on good quality pasture for their stock.
Melanostoma fasciatum is a species of hoverfly found in New Zealand, where it is common in agricultural fields and gardens. Locally dense populations of this hoverfly species might effectively reduce pest infestation. Hence, they are perhaps an effective natural and non-toxic bioagent that may control and reduce aphid and small caterpillar populations.
Aphis spiraecola is a species of aphid described in 1914 by Edith Marion Patch. Its common names include green citrus aphid, Spirea aphid, and apple aphid. is distributed worldwide, and is most abundant in the United States. It has a diploid chromosome number of 2n=8.
George Darvel Hill was a New Zealand agronomist, naval reservist, justice of the peace and unionist.
Bromus sitchenis, the Alaska brome, is a perennial grass native to the North Pacific coast of North America, in woods and banks from Alaska to Oregon. It can grow up to 1.8 m tall, but is often shorter. Leaf blades are elongate, 7–12 mm wide, and as much as 35 cm long. Spikelets 2.5 to 3.5 cm long with between 6 and 12 flowers, awn is 5 to 10 mm long.
Aleurocanthus spiniferus, the citrus spiny whitefly, is an important pest of citrus and tea plants. They are part of the order Hemiptera, and the family Aleyrodidae, where more than 1550 species have been described. A. spiniferus is indigenous to parts of tropical Asia, where it was first discovered in Japan. Since its discovery, it has now spread to numerous continents including Africa, Australia, America, Pacific Islands and Italy. Wherever it is found, it has become a highly destructive pest. Two populations of A. spiniferus have been found according to the plant or crop they infest: the citrus spiny whitefly, as well as the tea spiny whitefly.
Gillian Fiona Laundon was a New Zealand-based mycologist with a focus on plant pathology and taxonomy.
Brenda Mabel May was a New Zealand speleological entomologist known for her contributions to the understanding of weevil larvae biology. Between 1956 and 1980, she worked in the Entomology Division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). Afterwards, she became a research associate at Landcare Research, where she completed a systematic overview of New Zealand Curculionoidea, published in 1993. In 1998, May was elected as a Fellow of the Entomological Society of New Zealand in recognition of her contributions.
Joyce WatsonFNZIC was a New Zealand chemist specialising in fruit disorders and trace elements.
