Mites sent to Tonga to tackle invasive plants

Hundreds of thousands of mites mass-reared in an Auckland facility have been sent to Tonga to tackle an invasive plant that is out-competing native species. Cuttings infested with the gall miteswere shipped to the island nation this week, where they will growin a colony, before being released around the island on to African tulip trees. Gall miteswere originally brought over to New Zealand in 2016 from Ghana to be sent on to Rarotonga. A backup colonywas kept in case any other countries needed them – but Covid-19 restrictions pushed plans out until now. Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research NENS coordinator Temo Talie said the mites formed galls which stunted plant growth. The trees are the only food source for the gall mites, making them the perfect biocontrol agents, as they would not damage other plant species, he said.