Session 5 Prospects for Weed Biological Control in Pacific Islands 251

Defoliation and Leaf-Rolling by Salbia lotanalis (: Pyralidae) Attacking Miconia calvescens (Melastomataceae)

F. R. Badenes-Perez1,2, A. Castillo-Castillo3 and M. T. Johnson4

1University of Hawaii at Manoa, Pacific Cooperative Studies Unit, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA [email protected] 2Current: Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain 3Universidad de Costa Rica, Escuela de Biologia, San Jose, Costa Rica 4USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, Volcano, HI 96785, USA

Abstract

Salbia lotanalis Druce (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is a leaf-roller that attacks miconia (Miconia calvescens DC., Melastomataceae) in Costa Rica and Brazil (Morais et al., 2010). We monitored population dynamics of S. lotanalis and quantified defoliation and leaf-rolling in M. calvescens leaves at a field site in central Costa Rica. Larval populations peaked during the transition from rainy season to dry season and were lowest at the end of the dry season. Leaf rolling and defoliation both greatly reduced leaf area exposed to sunlight, likely reducing photosynthetic capacity. Damage by S. lotanalis was very high compared to other leaf feeders attacking M. calvescens elsewhere in the native range, including larvae of the sawfly Atomacera petroa Smith (Hymenoptera: Argidae) and the Antiblemma leucocyma Hampson (Lepidoptera: ) (Badenes-Pérez and Johnson, 2007; Badenes-Pérez and Johnson, 2008).

References herbivory, and host specificity of Antiblemma leucocyma (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on Miconia calvescens DC. (Melastomataceae) in Brazil. Badenes-Pérez, F.R. & Johnson, M.T. (2007) Biocontrol Science and Technology 18, 183–192. Ecology and impact of Atomacera petroa Smith Morais, E.G.F., Picanço, M.C., Barreto, R.W., Silva, (Hymenoptera: Argidae) on Miconia calvescens G.A., Moreno, S.C. & Queiroz, R.B. (2010) DC. (Melastomataceae). Biological Control 43, Biology of the leaf roller Salbia lotanalis and its 95–101. impact on the invasive tree Miconia calvescens. Badenes-Pérez, F.R. & Johnson, M.T. (2008) Biology, BioControl 55, 685–694.

XIII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds - 2011