Florida’s Established Arthropod Weed Biological Control Agents and Their Targets

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
J. Howard Frank
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Invasive Weeds ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Natural Areas ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Fact Sheet

Around 5% of the plant species deliberately introduced into Florida for crop production and horticultural uses have invaded sensitive aquatic and terrestrial natural areas as well as improved pastures. One of the reasons they become invasive is they lack the natural enemies that limit their reproduction. Biological control reunites these natural enemies (usually arthropods) with their host plants to selectively weaken and suppress the invasive weeds. This 3-page fact sheet was written by J. P. Cuda and J. H. Frank and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, October 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in779

Yellow Brazilian Pepper-tree Leaf Galler (suggested common name) Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Insecta: Hemiptera: Calophyidae: Calophyinae)

EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
Patricia Prade ◽  
Carey R. Minteer-Killian
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
North America ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Pepper Tree ◽  
Brazilian Pepper ◽  
Close Relatives ◽  
Tree Leaf

In the late 1970s, Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), was targeted for classical biological control in Florida because its invasive properties (see Host Plants) are consistent with escape from natural enemies (Williams 1954), and there are no native Schinus spp. in North America. The lack of native close relatives should minimize the risk of damage to non-target plants from introduced biological control agents (Pemberton 2000). [...]

How can progress in the understanding of antagonistic interactions be applied to improve biological control of plant invasions?

2020 ◽  
pp. 363-376
Author(s):  
Martin P. Hill ◽  
Julie A. Coetzee
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Plant Defences ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Alien Plant ◽  
Invasive Shrub ◽  
Rapid Induction ◽  
Control Programmes

Abstract Classical biological control has been used as a management tool for invasive non-native plant species globally for over 200 years. There have been some very successful programmes, most notably on waterweeds, cacti and seed reduction in perennial trees. Seventy per cent of agents released have established in at least one instance, and 66% of the targeted invasive species have showed some level of control. However, some programmes have failed to meet expectations, for example on Lantana camara. The most commonly cited reasons for the failure of establishment or limited efficacy of biological control agents are unsuitable climatic conditions and genotype incompatibility. We propose that antagonistic biotic interactions play a significant role in the outcomes of weed biological control programmes. Induced plant defences (physical and chemical) that can be mounted rapidly by the invasive non-native plants can result in the reduction in agent populations after initial attack. Rapid induction of plant defences have been implicated in the lack of long-term establishment of the agent Falconia intermedia that showed great initial promise against the widespread invasive shrub L. camara. Host range expansion by native natural enemies onto biological control agents have also been shown to reduce population growth of agents. Finally, competition from indigenous plant species aids invasive alien plant population reduction in the presence of herbivory. All three factors have been poorly studied and further work is needed to better explain the outcomes of weed biological control programmes.

How can progress in the understanding of antagonistic interactions be applied to improve biological control of plant invasions?

2020 ◽  
pp. 363-376
Author(s):  
Martin P. Hill ◽  
◽  
Julie E. Coetzee ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Plant Defences ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Alien Plant ◽  
Invasive Shrub ◽  
Rapid Induction ◽  
Control Programmes

Classical biological control has been used as a management tool for invasive non-native plant species globally for over 200 years. There have been some very successful programmes, most notably on waterweeds, cacti and seed reduction in perennial trees. Seventy per cent of agents released have established in at least one instance, and 66% of the targeted invasive species have showed some level of control. However, some programmes have failed to meet expectations, for example on <i>Lantana camara</i>. The most commonly cited reasons for the failure of establishment or limited efficacy of biological control agents are unsuitable climatic conditions and genotype incompatibility. We propose that antagonistic biotic interactions play a significant role in the outcomes of weed biological control programmes. Induced plant defences (physical and chemical) that can be mounted rapidly by the invasive non-native plants can result in the reduction in agent populations after initial attack. Rapid induction of plant defences have been implicated in the lack of long-term establishment of the agent <i>Falconia intermedia</i> that showed great initial promise against the widespread invasive shrub <i>L. camara</i>. Host range expansion by native natural enemies onto biological control agents have also been shown to reduce population growth of agents. Finally, competition from indigenous plant species aids invasive alien plant population reduction in the presence of herbivory. All three factors have been poorly studied and further work is needed to better explain the outcomes of weed biological control programmes.

Plant Pathogens at Work: Progress and Possibilities for Weed Biocontrol Classical versus Bioherbicidal Approach

2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 32 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. B. Yandoc-Ables ◽  
E. N. Rosskopf ◽  
R. Charudattan
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Plant Pathogens ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Weeds ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Application Technology ◽  
Control Efficacy ◽  
Weed Biocontrol

Weed biological control using plant pathogens has been successfully implemented for a number of important invasive weeds. Both the classical and bioherbicide approaches have shown promise depending on the characteristics of the target weed. Bioherbicidal activity can be improved with research on formulation and application technology. Other approaches that have improved weed control efficacy for both classical biological control agents and bioherbicides include using a combination of pathogens and insects. Accepted for publication 9 April 2007. Published 22 August 2007.

Integrating Weed Biological Control Agents into a Pest-Management Program

Weed Science ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (S1) ◽  
pp. 25-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd A. Andres
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Weed Control ◽  
Plant Community ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Management Program ◽  
Aquatic Weeds ◽  
Farming Practices ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
Weed Biological Control

Little effort has been directed toward integrating biological control; that is, the use of living natural enemies to control weeds, with more conventional weed control practices. The usual focus of biological control has been on the introduction of weed insects and pathogens from foreign areas to control naturalized range, pasture, and/or aquatic weeds, principally single species that had become dominant over a plant community. The released natural enemies were allowed to reach their own balance with the target weed without added assistance. As economic and environmental perspectives change along with our knowledge and technological capability, however, it becomes worthwhile to review periodically if and how biological control might be integrated with other farming practices. Because my biological control experience has centered on the use of weed-feeding insects, this discussion will focus on methods of enhancing and integrating insect impact on weeds with other weed-control activities.

scholarly journals Selection of insectary plants for the conservation of biological control agents of aphids and thrips in fruit orchards

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Carmen Denis ◽  
Jordi Riudavets ◽  
Rosa Gabarra ◽  
Paula Molina ◽  
Judit Arnó
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
Flowering Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agents ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
Flowering Plant Species ◽  
Fruit Orchards

Abstract This study evaluated the potential of flowering plant species naturally occurring to promote the conservation and early establishment of key natural enemies of aphids and thrips in apple and peach orchards. Flowering plants present in the North East of Spain, a main fruit production area in Europe, were sampled to determine their flowering period and to identify potential natural enemies present on each plant species. Thirty-six plant species were found blooming from early March to late May and provided an array of flowers that might ensure food resources for natural enemies. Among them, six species – Eruca vesicaria (L.) Cav., Cardaria draba (L.) Desv., Euphorbia serrata (L.) S.G. Gmel., Malva sylvestris L., Anacyclus clavatus (Desf.) Pers. and Diplotaxis erucoides (L.) DC. – hosted a high diversity of potential natural enemies of aphids and thrips. Their blooming started early in the season and lasted for several sampling weeks and they were widely distributed. Moreover, they had available nectar even in those species with protected nectaries. Therefore, these plant species can be considered as promising candidates for inclusion in the ecological infrastructure designed for fruit orchards in the study area to promote the conservation of the biological control agents of aphids and thrips.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document