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Story: Beetles

Ragwort

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Ragwort

Weed researcher Hugh Gourlay holds up a healthy ragwort – a weed in New Zealand – and one whose roots have been eaten by larvae of the ragwort flea beetle (Longitarsus jacobaeae). The beetle was introduced in 1983 to control the weed, which has been reduced in the drier parts of New Zealand.

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Landcare Research – Manaaki Whenua

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How to cite this page

John Marris, Beetles – Beetles and humans, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/14386/ragwort (accessed 25 June 2026).

Story by John Marris, published 1 March 2009.