A southern council is turning its attention to a small insect in hopes it can combat an invasive species threatening the region.

Chilean Flame Creeper was brought into New Zealand as an ornamental plant but has since established itself as a weed, Environment Southland says.

Now the council is exploring its namesake — the Chilean Flame Creeper leaf beetle — as a potential solution to its spread.

If successful, the insect would be introduced as a "biocontrol agent" which would attack the plant.

“Chilean Flame Creeper is an extremely vigorous creeping weed that smothers native vegetation,” a report prepared for a council committee read.

“In Southland, it is found in many bush reserves and is threatening Rakiura and Fiordland National Parks.”

Originally brought into New Zealand for ornamental purposes, Chilean Flame Creeper is now threatening remote parts of Southland. Photo: Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research/Supplied

Because of the harm Chilean Flame Creeper caused the region, Environment Southland had taken on a special role in championing control measures.

That included sending a staff member to Chile in 2019 for research purposes alongside Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research.

The council would now consult with key stakeholders and apply to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment of the beetle as an agent.

If the insect got the green light, a single release would cost approximately $5000.

So far, the council has released a total of 29 agents in the region to attack different pest plants, with five failing to establish and four still being assessed.

The council has not made a financial investment in managing the Chilean Flame Creeper because of how hard it is to control, the report noted.

Another pest plant mentioned in the report was Darwin’s Barberry, which is also causing issues in Southland.

Environment Canterbury was spearheading work on the potential introduction of a weevil and rust fungus to keep on top of that species.

LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air