NATIONWIDE SURVEY OF ARTHROPODS AND MOLLUSKS ON CUT FLOWERS IN NEW-ZEALAND

During a nationwide survey, 88 320 plants from eight cut-flower specie s at 345 sites located in 13 districts in New Zealand were examined fo r arthropods and molluscs from December 1994 to June 1995. One hundred and eighty-six new arthropod and mollusc records were found on the ei ght cut-flower species and 114 of these were considered to be potentia l primary pests. Most new records were for calla (Zantedeschia spp.) ( 92) and 50 of these were potential primary pests including 10 species of thrips. Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) was foun d in Auckland on calla, rose (Rosa spp.), carnation (Dianthus caryophy llus and chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium). Twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) was a significant potential pest of cymbid ium (Cymbidium spp.), carnation, gypsophila (Gypsophila spp.), and ros e. Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) was a significant potential pest of ca lla and New Zealand flower thrips (Thrips obscuratus) was a significan t potential pest on calla and rose. The oleander scale (Aspidiotus ner ii) was found at half the cymbidium sites surveyed.