Eucalyptus
Guides
Bucculatricidae
Ribbed Cocoon-Making Moths
Bucculatricidae is a small family of moths in the superfamily Gracillarioidea, with representatives distributed worldwide. Adults are minute with narrow wings held tightly around the body at rest, making them easily overlooked. Larvae exhibit hypermetamorphosis with distinct changes in feeding habits between instars: early instars are typically leaf miners forming characteristic blotches or linear mines, while later instars usually feed externally on leaves or bore into stems. The family is notable for pupal cases with distinctive longitudinal ridges, giving rise to the common name 'ribbed cocoon makers.' Some authors recognize only the single genus Bucculatrix, though Australian genera Cryphioxena and Ogmograptis (scribbly gum moths) are now frequently included.
Ctenarytaina spatulata
Rose Gum Psyllid
Ctenarytaina spatulata is a psyllid species in the family Aphalaridae, described by Taylor in 1997. It is associated with Eucalyptus hosts and has been introduced to multiple continents beyond its native Australian range. The species has established populations in Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania. It is one of numerous exotic insects linked to global forestry trade, particularly involving eucalyptus plantations.
Glycaspis
Glycaspis is a genus of plant-parasitic psyllids in the family Aphalaridae. Species in this genus are strongly associated with Eucalyptus host plants. The genus includes at least two described species: Glycaspis brimblecombei (red gum lerp psyllid), a significant invasive pest of eucalyptus plantations worldwide, and Glycaspis granulata. Many Glycaspis species exhibit high host specificity, often restricted to single Eucalyptus species or closely related host groups. The genus is native to Australia, where it shows patterns of short-range endemism linked to host plant distribution.
Gonipterus
Eucalyptus Weevils, Eucalyptus Snout Beetles, Eucalyptus Snout Weevils
Gonipterus is a genus of weevils in the family Curculionidae, comprising approximately 20 described species native primarily to Australia. These insects are obligate plant feeders, with many species exhibiting high host specificity. Several species, notably Gonipterus platensis, G. pulverulentus, and G. gibberus, have become significant pests of Eucalyptus plantations globally, having spread to regions where these trees have been introduced. Taxonomic confusion has historically plagued the genus, with DNA studies in 2012 clarifying that populations previously identified as G. scutellatus in New Zealand, North America, western Europe, Africa, and eastern Europe actually represent distinct species. The genus has substantial economic importance in forestry, driving research into biological control agents such as the egg parasitoid Anaphes nitens.
Gonipterus scutellatus
eucalyptus snout beetle, eucalyptus weevil, gum tree weevil
Gonipterus scutellatus is a weevil species endemic to Australia that feeds and breeds exclusively on Eucalyptus trees. It is greyish-brown with a light-colored transverse band and measures approximately 13 mm in length. The species is frequently confused with closely related weevils—G. gibberus, G. platensis, and G. pulverulentus—which share common names and were historically misidentified as G. scutellatus. Populations outside Australia previously attributed to this species have been reidentified through DNA analysis: those in New Zealand, North America, and western Europe are G. platensis, while African and eastern European populations represent an undescribed species.
Oxydia vesulia
spurge spanworm moth
Oxydia vesulia is a geometrid moth with broad distribution across the Americas. In Brazil, it is a secondary pest of eucalyptus plantations, causing economic damage during population outbreaks. The species has been evaluated as a potential biological control agent for Brazilian peppertree but was rejected due to its wide host range spanning multiple plant families. It serves as host for the parasitoid Tetrastichus howardi, which has been investigated for integrated pest management.
Paropsis atomaria
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis atomaria is a leaf beetle in the subfamily Chrysomelinae, native to eastern Australia. The species name 'atomaria' refers to its speckled or freckled appearance. It has become an economically significant pest of Eucalyptus plantations in Queensland and New South Wales, and has been introduced to the west coast of North America. Females produce up to 600 eggs, deposited at leaf or twig tips. The species typically completes two generations per summer across most of its range.
Paropsisterna
leaf beetles, eucalyptus leaf beetles
Paropsisterna is a genus of chrysomelid leaf beetles containing over 120 species native to Australia and Papua New Guinea. Many species exhibit bright aposematic coloration and feed on Myrtaceae, particularly Eucalyptus. Several species have become invasive pests in New Zealand and Europe, causing significant defoliation of eucalypt plantations and ornamental trees. The genus was redefined in 2006 to include species formerly placed in Chrysophtharta and other genera.
Phoracantha
Eucalyptus Longhorn Beetles
Phoracantha is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) comprising approximately 40 species, native to Australia and New Guinea. The genus was revised by Wang (1995), who synonymized Tryphocaria with Phoracantha and described nine new species. Species in this genus are primarily associated with Eucalyptus trees, with several species—particularly P. semipunctata and P. recurva—having achieved global distribution as invasive pests following introduction to regions where eucalypts have been planted. These beetles colonize the phloem of host trees and can cause significant mortality, especially during drought conditions when tree defenses are compromised.
Phoracanthini
Phoracanthini is a tribe of longhorn beetles in the subfamily Cerambycinae, containing twelve recognized genera distributed primarily across the Australasian, Oriental, and Indo-Pacific regions. The tribe includes economically significant genera such as Phoracantha, known for their association with Eucalyptus trees. Member genera exhibit substantial diversity in body form and elytral patterning, with many species displaying distinctive spotted or banded coloration.
Quadrastichus
Quadrastichus is a genus of small parasitic wasps in the family Eulophidae, subfamily Tetrastichinae. The genus includes species with diverse ecological roles: some are gall-inducing pests of trees, while others are ectoparasitoids used in biological control programs. Notable species include Quadrastichus erythrinae, an invasive gall wasp that damages Erythrina (coral trees) in tropical and subtropical regions, and Q. mendeli, an obligate ectoparasitoid of the eucalyptus pest Leptocybe invasa that has been successfully established for biological control across multiple countries.
Thyrinteina arnobia
eucalyptus brown looper, brown looper caterpillar
Thyrinteina arnobia is a geometrid moth native to the Americas and a major pest of Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. The species occurs throughout South America and parts of Central and North America, where it feeds primarily on Myrtaceae, with Eucalyptus serving as a vulnerable host in commercial plantations. Larval infestations can reduce annual Eucalyptus biomass production by up to 40%, making it the primary defoliator of subtropical and tropical Brazilian eucalyptus farms. Population genetic studies indicate low genetic diversity in Brazil with three regional mitochondrial haplogroups, suggesting outbreaks arise from local populations rather than long-distance dispersal.
Trachymela sloanei
Australian tortoise beetle, small eucalyptus tortoise beetle
Trachymela sloanei is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to Australia where it feeds on Eucalyptus trees. The species has established invasive populations in multiple regions including California, Chile, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and China. It was first detected in Europe in 2014 and reported from Algeria in May 2025, representing the first African record. The beetle is recognized as a defoliating pest of Eucalyptus species with potential economic and ecological impacts in invaded regions.