Abstract:
A survey was conducted at Oruchinga refugee settlement in Mbarara district, Uganda in November 2003 to determine the
cause, incidence and severity of a gall damage on Eucalyptus species in nursery and wood lots. Leptocybe invasa (Hymenoptera:
Eulophidae), a tiny black wasp commonly known as blue gum chalcid, was found to be the cause of the gall damage on
Eucalyptus. The wasp attacked field planted seedlings and saplings, but not seedlings in the nursery. The incidence and
severity of the wasp attacks were markedly higher on Eucalyptus grandis than E. saligna. Research is urgently needed to
develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies against the new Eucalyptus pest