THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ABANTIADES LATIPENNIS (LEPIDOPTERA, FAMILY HEPIALIDAE) AND EUCALYPTUS OBLIQUA AND EUCALYPTUS REGNANS IN TASMANIA

Larvae of Abantiades latipennis Tindale fed on callus tissue formed within lesions on the roots of two to eight year old saplings of Eucalyptus regnans F. von Mueller and E. obliqua L'Heritier in southern Tasmania. Larval feeding lesions occurred on all parts of the root system, although the majority were located on lateral roots. Roots of the larger more vigorous trees had the greatest number. Lesions could serve as infection courts for root‐rot fungi such as Armillaria sp. In the field, larvae constructed and occupied a near vertical but simple tunnel system which was associated with the host roots. The subterranean phase of the life cycle probably takes at least 18 months. The tachinid Rutilotrixa diversa Paramonov was identified as a larval parasite. Damage by A. latipennis and secondary root‐rot organisms may limit the development of some trees in fast growing even‐aged sapling stands. Large scale forest harvesting could favour an increased population of this species.