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Bridal creeper leaf beetle, Crioceris sp.
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The bridal creeper leaf beetle, Crioceris sp.is the
third agent released onto bridal creeper. It was approved
for release in May 2002. Since then it has been released at
nursery sites in WA, SA and NSW. It has established at some
of these sites but populations are slow to build-up.
The leaf beetle damages bridal creeper by stripping the young
stems of shoots and leaves. This action prevents bridal creeper
from climbing, reducing fruit production. It is active in
autumn and early winter (Feb-June/July) and is not expected
to compete directly with the rust fungus and leafhopper for
resources. Its action will complement that of the two other
agents.
The adults lays its eggs perpendicularly, either singly or
in groups of up to 10, on expanding shoots and leaves of bridal
creeper from autumn to early winter. Both the adults and larvae
feed exclusively on the plant's young, expanding tissues.
Crioceris eggs
Photo: David McClenaghan CSIRO
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Crioceris larvae
Photo: David McClenaghan CSIRO
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Older shoots/cladodes are not utilized. The beetle has one-two
generations/year and survives the summer as an adult inside
the pupal cocoon. It emerges after the first autumn rains.
The leaf beetle has a complicated life cycle and therefore
is unsuited for rearing by community groups and schools.
Please contact us with any
questions.
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