Gonipterus platensis

The gum tree weevil is endemic to Australia where Eucalyptus trees are native. This and other related species in the genus Gonipterus are invasive pests of eucalyptus in Africa, South America, North America, and Europe, and were historically misidentified as G. scutellatus until researchers examined the DNA of the pest species in 2012 and determined that none of the pests were genuine G. scutellatus.^[3] Populations formerly misidentified as Gonipterus scutellatus in New Zealand, North America, Hawaii, and western Europe are Gonipterus platensis, and those in Africa and eastern Europe are an undescribed species.^[3]

This particular gum tree weevil is of little economic significance in Australia where it has natural enemies. Because of the confusion between this species and related species in all of the published literature prior to 2012, and much of the subsequent literature, it is difficult to assess which properties (life cycle, host preferences, and other ecological parameters) pertain to this species.^[3] In other countries where Eucalyptus has been introduced, gum tree weevils feed mostly on leaves and the soft bark of twigs while the larvae feed mostly on leaves. Heavy infestations cause die back of shoots which may result in the development of epicormic shoots. Repeated defoliations may cause the splitting and death of branches or even whole trees.^[4] The egg parasite Anaphes nitens, a wasp which is native to Australia, has been introduced to other countries as a biological control agent to control the gum tree weevil.^[5]