Environment

Broom seed beetle
Source: Landcare Research Biocontrol agent:
Broom seed beetle

Scientific name:
Bruchidius villosus

Target pest:
Broom
Cytisus scoparius

What do broom seed beetles look like?

The adults are small, 2 to 4 millimetres long, black and round.

What about their life cycle?

Adult females begin laying the tiny oblong-shaped eggs on the outside of green pods in October/November. The larvae are cream and burrow through the pod wall and into the soft green seeds. They develop inside the seeds in spring and early summer. The infested seeds develop a distinctive bulge and/or show discolouration.

The pupae are cream and pupation occurs within the seed. New adults are released when the pod bursts open.

Where are they established?

A colony is established at Ruapekapeka, along Monument Rd south of its intersection with Akerama Rd.

When and how are they best harvested for redistribution?

Beat flowering broom bushes over a white sheet in October/November and collect the 2 millimetre-long, round, dull black beetles. Alternatively, put a bag over the flowers and give a sharp shake. As soon as possible, release a minimum of 1000 beetles on bushes that are flowering and with green pods forming.