Leaf-roll-gall
Guides
Macrotrachelia nigronitens
minute pirate bug, flower bug
Macrotrachelia nigronitens is a small anthocorid bug, approximately 3 mm in length, native to Central and South America. It has established permanent wild populations in Auckland, New Zealand since at least the 1980s, and is also reported as adventive in North America. The species is a specialised predator of thrips that inhabit leaf-roll galls.
Trioza brevigenae
Ficus leaf-rolling psyllid
Trioza brevigenae, known as the ficus leaf-rolling psyllid, is an invasive pest of Ficus microcarpa (Chinese banyan or Indian laurel fig) native to India. It was first detected in California in 2016, representing the first known occurrence outside its native range. The species causes characteristic leaf-roll galls on host foliage, with nymphs developing inside these protected structures. Its invasion pathway and full geographic distribution remain under investigation.