Gum leaf skeletoniser moth, Uraba lugens,in the forests of Western Australia

Abstract

Summary Uraba lugens defoliated large areas of eucalpyt forest in the south west of Western Australia in January 1983 and extensive infestations continued each year up to the 1985/86 summer when 160 000 ha were affected. In Western Australia the pupation and oviposition behaviour, the life cycle and the host preferences of this indigenous moth differ from those recorded for coastal, inland and highland forms in eastern Australian States. Oviposition occurs in parallel rows as is the case with the eastern Australian lowland form, and like the eastern highland form there is only one generation per year. The larvae have been recorded on Eucalyptus marginata (jarrah), E. calophylla (marri), E. diversicolor (karri), E. rudis (flooded gum), E. decipiens (limestone marlock) and E. wandoo (wandoo).