Jon SullivanOn Friday I saw my first Buddleja weevils in Ōtautahi-Christchurch, NZ. This is a biocontrol agent purposefully introduced into NZ to control butterfly bush, *Buddleja davidii*, which had been spreading out-of-control through much of the country.
Until recently it's been a bit too cold in Christchurch for Buddleja weevils to thrive. No longer, apparently.
The first Christchurch observation of Buddleja weevils on iNaturalist was in March last year. Mine is now the 6th observaton from the city.
The larvae are distinctive yellow jelly slugs, and the adult weevils are brown.
Keep an eye out for them on a butterfly bush near you.
As the climate warms, weeds are pushing southwards. At least it's good to know that their biocontrol agents are doing the same.
#weeds #WeedBiocontrol #biocontrol #nz #weevils #beetles #entomology #iNaturalist #iNaturalistNZ
