CRC Forestry - CRC for Forestry

to colonise plantations in southern Australia. Second, population levels of species that are already
present in plantations of E. globulus or E. nitens in small numbers might increase (Matsuki et al.,
Manuscript). In contrast, as mentioned earlier, climate change might bring drier conditions to south-
WA (Matsuki, 2006c) and water-stressed trees might be more susceptible to herbivore damage.
Insect damage is more likely to occur in marginal areas for plantations, thus, if climate change
predictions are correct, there may be an increased frequency and extent of severe damage by species
that are already present in plantations. The emergence of longicorn beetles in the Green Triangle
and WA would be examples of the latter possibility that have only caused problems in the past
during drought years (Andrew Loch, pers. comm.). Third, species may be accidentally introduced to
WA from eastern states or vice versa. As has been shown with species that have been accidentally
introduced to WA from the eastern states, two of the three species of insect herbivores on
E. globulus (and at least one other insect species on another eucalypt species) cause severe damage
in WA.
CRC for Forestry Technical Report 216: November 2011
Are insect herbivores in eucalypt plantations a worsening problem? 24