Tradescantia fluminensis, an exotic weed affecting native forest regeneration in New Zealand: Ecological surveys, safety tests and releases of four biocontrol agents from Brazil

► Many specialist natural enemies attack native Tradescantia fluminensis in Brazil. ► Only generalist insects/pathogens attack exotic T. fluminensis in New Zealand (NZ). ► Leaf damage was higher by 7.8 × (folivores) and 21.2 × (pathogens) in Brazil cf. NZ. ► Mean dry biomass of T. fluminensis was 164 gm−2 in Brazil cf. 455 gm−2 in NZ. ► Three criocerine beetles and a fungus from Brazil have been tested/released in NZ.