You are here: Home» NZFFA Library» Forest Management» Forest Health, Pests and Diseases» Forestry pests» Madarococcas totarae, Totara scale» Totara scale in Wellington


PESTS AND DISEASES OF FORESTRY IN NEW ZEALAND

Totara scale in Wellington

Scion is the leading provider of forest-related knowledge in New Zealand
Formerly known as the Forest Research Institute, Scion has been a leader in research relating to forest health for over 50 years. The Rotorua-based Crown Research Institute continues to provide science that will protect all forests from damage caused by insect pests, pathogens and weeds. The information presented below arises from these research activities.

From Forest health News 34, August 1994.

An article in the latest issue of The Weta claimed a new record of Totara scale, (Madarococcas totarae), in Wellington. This article also claimed to record an unusual phenomenon: tip dieback due to scale feeding. A search of our curated collection and records of plant dieback demonstrated that neither of these phenomena is new. We have records of M. totarae going back to the 1950s for the Wellington area. Tip dieback of young totara due to scale feeding is not an unusual occurrence. We have multiple records of this occurrence in the Forest Health Database. If anyone approaches you about this "serious situation" you can tell them it is neither serious nor new.

Paddy Walsh

This information is intended for general interest only. It is not intended to be a substitute for specific specialist advice on any matter and should not be relied on for that purpose. Scion will not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or exemplary damages, loss of profits, or any other intangible losses that result from using the information provided on this site.
(Scion is the trading name of the New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited.)

(top)

Farm Forestry - Headlines

Article archive »