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Today I noticed the leaves on my Nanho blue buddleia were looking like something was chewing at them. Close inspection revealed an advanced infestation of maggot-like grubs on both sides of the leaves. Putting two and two together I did a search and sure enough they proved to be Cleopus japonicus, a biological control brought in from China to help eradicate the Buddleia davidii which grows rife on riverbanks, roadsides and plantation forest margins.
The insect is a weevil which lays its eggs on the leaves of buddleia bushes. These hatch out and grow into a maggot-like legless grub, a yellow jelly-like blob which eats away at the leaves, defoliating the plant, stunting its growth, and probably eventually killing it. The grub will grow to about 5 mm in length, and then pupates in a cocoon on the leaf,finally emerging as the adult weevil to mate and start all over again.
The authorities are more than happy with the results, and advised gardeners to spray their plants if the weevil became troublesome to ornamentals.
I will post some shots to the Photo section.
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