Lepidoptera (butterflies, moths)
Agrius convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Syn.: Herse convolvuli (Linnaeus, 1758)]
[Sphingidae]
Sweet potato hawkmoth
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No – Larvae generally eat the younger leaves of hosts, often stripping growing shoots. During major infestations, whole plants may be defoliated (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in ACT, NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (AICN 2011).
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No
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Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel, 1766)
[Noctuidae]
black cutworm
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No – Feeds on leaves of hosts. Larvae can create 'shotholes' while feeding on tender leaves of seedling plants (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in the ACT, NSW, Qld, Tas. and WA (AICN 2011).
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No
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Ectropis bhurmitra (Walker, 1860)
[Syn.: Boarmia bhurmitra Walker, 1860; Ectropis brevifasciata Wileman, 1912]
[Geometridae]
Tea twig caterpillar
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No – Feeds on leaves (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in Qld under the synonym Ectropis sabulosa (APPD 2009).
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No
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Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1805)
[Noctuidae]
Cotton bollworm
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No – Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld and WA (Common 1990).
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No
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Hippotion boerhaviae (Fabricius, 1775)
[Sphingidae]
Hippotion sphinx moth
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No – Larvae of Hippotion spp. feed on leaves, stems and growing points (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NT and Qld (Common 1990).
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No
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Hippotion celerio (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Sphingidae]
Taro hawkmoth
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No – Larvae feed on the leaves of the taro plant (Common 1990). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Tas., Vic. and WA (Common 1990).
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No
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Spodoptera litura (Fabricius, 1775)
[Syn.: Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval, 1833)]
[Noctuidae]
Taro caterpillar
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No – Larvae feed on the leaves. Eggs are laid in clusters on the plant (Common 1990). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, Tas. and WA (Common 1990; AICN 2011).
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No
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Theretra clotho (Drury, 1773)
[Sphingidae]
Impatiens hawkmoth
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No – Larvae feed on leaves (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in Qld (Common 1990).
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No
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Theretra oldenlandiae (Fabricius, 1775)
[Sphingidae]
Impatiens hawkmoth
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No – Feeds on leaves, growing tips and flowering heads of hosts, sometimes completely stripping the plant (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, and WA (Common 1990).
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No
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Theretra silhetensis (Walker, 1856)
[Sphingidae]
Narrow-winged sphinx moth
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No – Larvae feed on undersides of leaves, and may be found resting on the stem or among the small leaf stems. Eggs are laid singly on both upper and lower leaf surfaces (Pittaway and Kitching 2009). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NT and WA (APPD 2009).
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No
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Theretra silhetensis subsp. intersecta (Butler, 1875)
[Sphingidae]
Sphinx moth
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No – No specific information on the feeding behaviour of this subspecies found, but likely to be similar to other Theretra silhetensis subspecies that may be present on leaves and stems. Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Has been recorded in eastern Australia (Nielsen et al. 1996).
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No
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Tiracola plagiata (Walker, 1857)
[Noctuidae]
Cacao armyworm
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No – Larvae feed on leaf surfaces and fruit of hosts. In heavy infestations caterpillars may be found on stems. Pupation occurs in the soil (Weddell 1930).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld and WA (AICN 2011).
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No
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Orthoptera (crickets; grasshoppers; katydids)
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Hexacentrus mundus (F. Wolker, 1869)
[Tettigoniidea]
Long-horned cricket
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No – Occasional report on taro (French 2006). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Oxya hyla subsp. intricata (Stål, 1861)
[Acrididae]
Short-horned grasshopper
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No – Leaf feeder. Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Teleogryllus oceanicus (Le Guillou, 1841)
[Gryllidae]
Oceanic field cricket
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No – Nymphs and adults feed on growing shoots and buds. Field crickets shelter in the soil, but emerge to feed at night (Sallam et al. 2007).
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Yes. Recorded in NT and WA (AICN 2011).
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No
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Zonocerus elegans (Thunberg, 1815)
[Pyrgomorphidae]
Elegant grasshopper
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No – External leaf feeder, congregating on upper parts of plant (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Zonocerus variegatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Pyrgomorphidae]
Variegated grasshopper
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No – External leaf feeder, congregating on upper parts of plant (CABI 2011). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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No record found.
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No
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Thysanoptera (thrips)
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Caliothrips striatopterus (Kobus, 1893)
[Thripidae]
Black thrips of maize
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No – Feeds on leaves. Thrips of the subfamily Panchaetothripinae are generally associated with older leaves rather than new foliage (Mound 2008). Leaf trimming during harvest should exclude this pest from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld and WA (CSIRO 2009).
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No
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NEMATODA: Secernetea
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Tylenchida
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Aphelenchoides besseyi Christie, 1942
[Aphelenchoididae]
Rice leaf nematode
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No – Ectoparasitic feeders on growing points of leaves and stems. Does not survive for long periods in the soil (EPPO 2011b).
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Yes. Recorded in NT and Qld (EPPO 2011b; McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Aphelenchoides bicaudatus (Imamura, 1931)
[Aphelenchoididae]
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No – Aphelenchids, including Aphelenchoides bicaudatus, are predominantly free-living mycetophagous nematodes (Manzanilla-Lopez et al. 2004). Orton Williams (1980) reported this nematode occurring in small numbers in association with taro, but did not provide details of which part of the plant, if any, were affected. Cleaning of all soil from corms will remove this nematode from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, Qld, Vic. and WA (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Aphelenchus avenae Bastian, 1865
[Aphelenchoididae]
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No – Aphelenchus avenae feeds on the hyphae of soil fungi (Ishibashi et al. 2005; CABI 2011). Association with taro plant is unclear, but possibly present in soil amongst roots. Cleaning of all soil from corms will remove this nematode from the pathway.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic. and WA (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Caloosia longicaudata (Loos, 1948)
[Syn.: Hemicycliophora longicaudata Loos, 1948]
[Caloosiidae]
Ring nematode
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No – May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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No record found.
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No
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Criconema polynesianum (Orton Williams, 1982)
[Syn.: Nothocriconema polynesianum Orton Williams, 1982]
[Criconematidae]
Ring nematode
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No – An ectoparasitic nematode that feeds on the root cortex (Siddiqi 2000). May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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No record found.
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No
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Criconemella denoudeni (de Grisse, 1967)
[Syn.: Macroposthonia denoudeni de Grisse, 1967]
[Criconematidae]
Ring nematode
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Yes – Migratory ectoparasitic nematode that feeds on the root cortex (Siddiqi 2000). Association with taro seems to be minor.
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No record found.
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Yes – This nematode is polyphagous and has been recorded on more than 65 plant hosts (Orton Williams 1980), many of which are present in Australia.
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No – Ring nematodes are only considered to be a nuisance on certain crops when large populations build up (Siddiqi 2000). Not listed as a major pest in Luc et al. (1990) or Bridge (1988).
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No
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Discocriconemella limitanea (Luc, 1959)
[Criconematidae]
Ring nematode
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No – May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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Yes. Recorded in NSW and Qld (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Gracilacus aonli (Misra & Edward, 1971)
[Syn.: Paratylenchus aonli Misra & Edward, 1971]
[Paratylenchidae]
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No – Reported feeding on the roots of taro in Fiji (Orton Williams 1985). May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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No record found.
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No
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Helicotylenchus crenacauda Sher, 1966
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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No – May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm. Orton Williams (1980) reported this species occasionally found in taro plots in Fiji.
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No record found.
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No
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Helicotylenchus dihystera (Cobb, 1893)
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiendo- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro (Luc et al. 1990).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA, Vic. and WA (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Helicotylenchus erythrinae (Zimmerman, 1904)
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiendo- or ecto-parasites of roots. This species has been reported as associated with taro in Fiji (Kirby et al. 1980).
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Yes. Recorded in Qld and SA (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Helicotylenchus indicus Siddiqi, 1963
[Syn.: Helicotylenchus microdorus Prasad, Khan & Chawla, 1965; Helicotylenchus teres Gaur & Prasad, 1973]
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiendo- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro (Luc et al. 1990). Causes some damage to vegetable crops in India, but only when in high numbers (Lamberti 1997).
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No record found.
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiecto- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro. Helicotylenchus spp. are known to be amphimictic and mitotically parthenogenic (Evans 1998).
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No – A population build-up of this species around sapodilla roots (Manilkara zapota) was reported by Saeed (1974). Not listed as a damaging nematode of taro by Luc et al. (1990).
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No
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Helicotylenchus microcephalus Sher, 1966
[Syn.: Helicotylenchus belurensis Singh & Khera, 1980]
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiendo- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro. Listed as an actionable regulated pest for fresh green beans from South Africa by New Zealand (NZ MAF 1999).
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No record found.
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiecto- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro. Helicotylenchus spp. are known to be amphimictic and mitotically parthenogenic (Evans 1998).
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Yes – Reported as potentially important root parasites of banana and plantain by Bridge (1988) and Luc et al. (1990), and the cause of root necrosis and stunted growth of bananas in the Pacific. The more serious banana pathogen Helicotylenchus multicinctus and other Helicotylenchus spp. are already present in Australia (McLeod et al. 1994; Sauer 1981).
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Yes
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Helicotylenchus mucronatus Siddiqi, 1963
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiendo- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro (Luc et al. 1990).
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No record found.
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiecto- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro. Helicotylenchus spp. are known to be amphimictic and mitotically parthenogenic (Evans 1998).
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Yes – Reported as potentially important root parasites of banana and plantain by Bridge (1988) and Luc et al. (1990), and the cause of root necrosis and stunted growth of bananas in the Pacific. The more serious banana pathogen Helicotylenchus multicinctus and other Helicotylenchus spp. are already present in Australia (McLeod et al. 1994; Sauer 1981).
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Yes
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Helicotylenchus multicinctus (Cobb, 1893)
[Syn.: Tylenchorhynchus multicinctus (Cobb, 1893); Tylenchus multicinctus Cobb, 1983]
[Hoplolaimidae]
Spiral nematode
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Yes – Helicotylenchus spp. are endo-, semiendo- or ecto-parasites of roots, including taro (Luc et al. 1990).
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Yes. Recorded in NSW, NT, Qld, SA and WA (McLeod et al. 1994; Sauer 1981).
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No
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Hemicriconemoides cocophilus (Loos, 1949)
[Criconematidae]
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No – May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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Yes. Recorded in NT, Qld and WA (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Hirschmanniella miticausa Bridge, Mortimer & Jackson, 1983
[Pratylenchidae]
Taro nematode
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Yes – Causes a serious red necrosis in taro corms, rendering them inedible. A quarantine pest in South East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Presently confined to Papua New Guinea (restricted distribution) and Solomon Islands (Bridge 1988).
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No record found.
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Yes – A migratory endoparasite of the corm. Lower corm most severely affected, rarer in middle and upper parts. Less commonly found in roots. Spread by planting of infected corms, but also spread in water (CABI 2011).
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Yes – Causes a serious red necrosis in taro corms, rendering them inedible. Presently confined to Papua New Guinea (restricted distribution) and Solomon Islands (CABI 2011).
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Yes
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Hoplolaimus indicus Sher, 1963
[Syn.: Basirolaimus indicus (Sher, 1963); Hoplolaimus arachidis Maharaju & Das, 1982]
[Hoplolaimidae]
Lance nematode
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No – Only one record of this nematode in association with taro (Bridge and Page 1984). May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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No record found.
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No
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Hoplolaimus seinhorsti Luc, 1958
[Hoplolaimidae]
Lance nematode
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No – May be present in the soil around the taro plant feeding on the roots, but not likely to present on or in the corm.
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Yes. Recorded in NT, Qld and WA (McLeod et al. 1994).
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No
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Longidorus pisi Edward, Misa & Singh, 1964
[Syn.: Longidorus siddiqii Aboul-Eid, 1970]
Longidoridae]
Needle nematode
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Yes – Reported on the roots of taro in India (as Longidorus siddiqii) (Prabha 1973).
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No record found.
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Yes – This species has a wide geographical distribution and has been recorded on a number of host plants.
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No – Economic damage has not been reported, although the nematode has been associated with a number of important plant hosts including maize (Van den Oever et al. 1998), eggplant (Yousef and Jacob 1994), grapevine (Choleva et al. 1991) and peanuts (Venter et al. 1992). Speculation that Longidorus siddiqii is associated with clump disease in peanut (Merny and Mauboussin 1973) does not appear to have been substantiated.
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No
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Longidorus sylphus Thorne, 1939
[Longidoridae]
Needle nematode
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Yes – Has been reported on taro in Hawaii (Ooka 1994).
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No record found.
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Yes – Longidorus spp. exhibit parthenogenic reproduction (Evans 1998). This has led to clonal speciation, and some disagreement on species limits. Some authorities include Longidorus sylphus within a broad Longidorus elongatus, but most keep them separate.
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Yes – A pest, particularly of mint (Mentha spp.), maize (Zea) and grapevine (Vitis) roots (Ferris 1999). Has been reported on taro in Hawaii but no data is available on damage caused (Ooka 1994). Risk is mainly to crops other than taro. Longidorus spp. are migratory ectoparasites, remaining outside roots and feeding via their protrusible stylet. Tissue damage is usually minimal except in high density infections (Hussey and Grundler 1998) or where root tips are attacked (Luc et al. 1990).
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Yes
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