Note Biological Control of the Weed, Mimosa Invisa Von Martins, on Pohnpei and Yap Introduction

eropsylla spinulosa spinulosa eropsylla

M M

therefore decided in 1991 to import a biological control agent from Australia, Australia, from agent control biological a import 1991 to in decided therefore

more, there are no herbicides registered for use to control weeds in the FSM. It was was It FSM. in the weeds control to use for registered herbicides no are there more,

black pepper plantations in Pohnpei. Pohnpei. in plantations pepper black

pastures on Pohnpei, Yap, and Palau. Palau. and Yap, Pohnpei, on pastures

bicide spraying program for nearly 40 years (Willson (Willson years 40 nearly for program spraying bicide

the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, French Polynesia, Solomon Is., New Cale Is., New Solomon Polynesia, French Fiji, Guinea, New Papua Philippines, the

ties. ties.

donia, Vanuatu, Cambodia, Thailand and India (Holms et al. 1997). 1997). al. et (Holms India and Thailand donia, Cambodia, Vanuatu,

a weed pest in Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Mauritus, Taiwan, Malaysian Borneo, Indonesia, Indonesia, Borneo, Malaysian Taiwan, Mauritus, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, in pest weed a

lands and roadsides in Western Samoa (Whistler 1983). 1983). (Whistler Samoa in Western roadsides and lands

can origin. Because it is a thorny plant, it interferes with daily manual farm activi farm manual daily with interferes it plant, thorny a is it Because origin. can

growing thorny shrub. Like most species of of species most Like shrub. thorny growing

Queensland, Australia where it has been controlled by an expensive government her government an expensive by controlled it been has where Queensland, Australia

a serious weed in many South East Asian countries and Pacific Islands (Holms (Holms Islands and Pacific countries Asian East South in many weed serious a

1977). It is a major pest of tropical pastures and sugar cane plantations of North North of plantations cane sugar and pastures tropical of pest major a is It 1977).

Micronesica Micronesica

invisa invisa

M M

Herbicidal control of of control Herbicidal

In 1991 1991 In

Mimosa invisa invisa Mimosa

ported from Australia were released in several sites infested with with infested sites several in released were Australia from ported

visa visa

a psyllid, a psyllid,

looked unhealthy, then turned brown and died. died. and brown turned then unhealthy, looked

came established and controlled controlled and established came

Abstract-The Abstract-The

of the Federated States of Micronesia in the early 1990's. Pure cultures of of cultures Pure 1990's. early the in Micronesia of States Federated of the

came a serious weed pest on the main islands of Pohnpei and and states Yap, Pohnpei of islands main the on pest weed serious a came

Biological Control of the Weed, Weed, the of Control Biological

invisia invisia

rudPhpi n a.Afwmnh atrrlae tepyld be psyllid the release, after and months Yap. few A Pohnpei around

a enrpre ob ao edps farclue atrs waste pastures, agriculture, of pest weed major a be to reported been has

30(2):421

M. invisa invisa M.

Heteropsylla spinulosa spinulosa Heteropsylla

occurs on Pohnpei, and and Pohnpei, on occurs Yap in and Palau. of FSM

RODASIO RODASIO

427, 1997 1997 427,

Von Martius, commonly known as giant sensitive plant, is is a fast sensitive plant, as giant known commonly Von Martius,

Muddiman, Hodkinson and Hollis. Hollis. and Hodkinson Muddiman,

NELSON NELSON

giant sensitive plant, plant, sensitive giant

was observed to occur on roadsides, cultivated lands and in in and lands cultivated roadsides, on occur to observed was

P.O. Box 159, Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941 96941 FM Pohnpei Kolonia, 159, P.O. Box

M M

P. P.

SAMUEL AND AND SAMUEL

invisa invisa

on Pohnpei and and Yap Pohnpei on

College of Micronesia-FSM Micronesia-FSM of College

. .

EsGUERRA, JONAH D. WILLIAM WILLIAM D. JONAH EsGUERRA,

Introduction Introduction

is not a viable technique in the FSM. Further FSM. the in technique viable a not is

udmn Hdisn n ols im Hollis, and Hodkinson Muddsman,

Note Note

M M

It It

spread rapidly and invaded coconut and and coconut invaded and rapidly spread

invisa. invisa.

Mimosa invisa invisa Mimosa

Mimosa Mimosa

Mimosa invisa invisa Mimosa

Initially, infested infested Initially,

the weed is of tropical Ameri tropical of is weed the

& &

J. DIOPULOS DIOPULOS J.

Garcia 1992). 1992). Furthermore, Garcia

M. M.

invisa invisa

o atu, be Martius, Von

Von Martins, Martins, Von

It It

has been listed as as listed been has

is is considered also

M M

. in M.

invisa invisa

et al. al. et Het

invisa invisa

M M

the the shipment.

seedlings in the the seedlings in

in in

was was started in Sep

fields in different in different fields lo

invisa invisa

to increase to increase number in

M M

were were examined monthly for the

spinulosa spinulosa

H. H. spinulosa

was was counted on 30 cm long stem

H. H.

invisa-infested invisa-infested

Heteropsylla Heteropsylla spinu/osa.

was was received from Queensland, Aus

invisa invisa

M M

spinulosa spinulosa

H. H.

spinulosa, spinulosa,

Micronesica Micronesica 30(2), 1997

before before release of

H. H.

Materials Materials and Methods

Since Since took it time for

. .

Mimosa Mimosa

Oviposition Oviposition by the psyllid occurred on plant 37 species out

were were released directly on

is a psyllid psyllid is a native to Brazil. Host specificity studies conducted in

infested infested field was done.

growing growing

H. H. spinulosa

Mimosa Mimosa

spinulosa spinulosa

Mimosa Mimosa invisa.

Release Release areas with actively growing

A A shipment of the psyllid,

H. H.

This This paper reports the effect of introducing the psyllid to suppress

H. H.

Figure Figure I. Actively

sections sections plants of selected at random in the release total area. A of plants 100 were

in in the released sites, counting on the number of

cations cations on the main island of ). Pohnpei (Figure Table 1 1,

tember tember The 1993. total number of

amined amined daily to remove whatever other organisms were contained

quarantine quarantine room for one generation to produce pure The cultures. cultures were ex presence presence of

tralia on April 15, 1992. The psyllids were reared on potted potted psyllids reared were on The April tralia on 1992. 15,

on on Pohnpei Yap. and

of of 188 species of plants tested. However, nymphs died on all those plants where

cific cific to

tralia tralia on

Australia Australia by Willson (1987) and Garcia (1985) revealed that the psyllid was spe

psyllid psyllid eggs were laid. Hence, the request to release Western it in Samoa Aus and 422 422

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

ulations slowly increases in the release sites infested with with infested sites release in the increases slowly ulations

tial field counts of the psyllid were made one year after release. release. after year one made were psyllid the of counts field tial M M

twice, once in April 1995 and once in March 1996. Counts of the total number of of number total the of 1996. Counts March in once 1995 and in April once twice,

Table 2. Because of long distance and high cost of travel, counts were done only only done were counts travel, of cost high and distance long of Because 2. Table

randomly selected plants in the release site. site. release the in plants selected randomly H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

vent wilting. wilting. vent

Pohnpei and handcarried to Yap. Cups containing the psyllid were provided with with provided were psyllid the containing Cups Yap. to handcarried and Pohnpei

were not active and counting was easier. easier. was counting and active not were

losa losa

sampled

invisa invisa

The number of of number The

Pure cultures of of cultures Pure

was based on 100 100 on based was

In two areas of Pohnpei where where Pohnpei of areas two In

. .

Observations were made in the early morning hours when the psyllids psyllids the when hours morning early the in made were Observations

seedlings in which the roots were wrapped with wet cotton balls to pre to balls cotton wet with wrapped were roots the which in seedlings

were made from 30 cm long stem of each plant, using a total of 100 100 of total a using plant, each of stem long cm 30 from made were

populations were monitored monthly in 1996. Samples of of Samples 1996. in monthly monitored were populations

April 8 1994 1994 8 April

April 7 1994 1994 7 April

Nov. 13 1992 200 Near Gas Station, Nett Nett Station, Gas Near 200 1992 13 Nov.

Dec. 5 1993 1993 5 Dec. Nov. 12 1993 300 300 1993 12 Nov.

Nov. 12 1992 400 400 1992 12 Nov.

Date released released Date

e.2 92 5 Na sme Lebehn Ishmael Near 150 1992 2 Dec.

Nov. 11 1992 100 Black Pepper Plantation, Nett Nett Plantation, Pepper Black 100 1992 11 Nov.

Nov. 10 1992 150 150 1992 10 Nov.

Nov

Nov. 4 1992 154 Nett (Robi Gas Station) Station) Gas (Robi Nett 154 1992 Nov. 4

Dec. 21 1992 200 200 1992 21 Dec.

Dec. 11 1992 1992 11 Dec.

Dec. 1 1992 100 Palikir Palikir 100 1992 1 Dec.

Dec. 1 1992 100 Near Ishmael Lebehn's place, Nett) Nett) place, Lebehn's Ishmael Near 100 1992 1 Dec.

Date of Release released released Release of Date

Sept. 8 1992 47 47 1992 8 Sept.

ay 16 1992 1992 16 ay

. .

Table 1 Table

5 1992 160 160 1992 5

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

M. invisa invisa M.

. .

Table 2. Number of releases on on Yap releases of Number 2. Table Esguerra et al.: Control of of Control al.: et Esguerra

Number of releases of of releases of Number

Results and Discussion Discussion and Results

Number Number

200 200

100 100

plants selected at random in each site. site. each in random at selected plants

on each each on

maintained in rearing cups were collected from from collected were cups rearing in maintained

released in three locations in Yap is shown in in shown is Yap in locations three in released

H. spinulosa, spinulosa, H.

Nett (Near Ishmael Lebehn Lebehn Ishmael (Near Nett

Near Leo Store, Nett Nett Store, Leo Near

Robi place, Nett Nett place, Robi

Nett (Yvettes Place) Place) (Yvettes Nett

Black Pepper Plantation, Nett Nett Plantation, Pepper Black

Palikir Palikir

Sekere Pah Sokehs Sokehs Pah Sekere

House) House)

M. invisa invisa M.

Number released released Number

H. H.

Mimosa invisia invisia Mimosa

spinulosa spinulosa

Location Location

130 130

150 150

had never been released before, before, released been never had

60 60

weed is shown in Table 3. Ini 3. in Table shown is weed

on Pohnpei Pohnpei on

s s place

M. invisa. invisa. M.

s s

, ,

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

Nett) Nett)

H. spinu H.

pop 423 423

Total number of of number Total

H. H. spinu/osa spinu/osa was based from 30 cm Jong stem sections of I 00 randomly selected selected randomly 00 I of sections stem Jong cm 30 from based was

M. M. invisa invisa 1

Yap (Main island) island) (Main Yap 66 (April 1995) 18 (April 1996) 1996) (April 18 1995) (April 66 Killed Killed

Near Nan Madol Madol Nan Near 18 18

Near Ace Hardware Hardware Ace Near 95 95 78 78 103 103 Killed Killed

Near Tiny Bubble Bar Bar Bubble Tiny Near 109 109

PMA Teketik Teketik PMA 127 127 13 13 Killed Killed

Yvette area area Yvette 152 152 144 144 73 73 94 94 Killed Killed

Escheit area area Escheit 140 140 50 50

Nanpohnmal Nanpohnmal 356 356 destroyed destroyed

Palik.ir, Sokehs Sokehs Palik.ir, 82

71 71

100 100 742 742 Killed Killed 1 1

September 1993 February 1994 1994 February 1993 September August 1994 November 1994 1994 November 1994 August February 1995 1995 February

Location Location Post release of of release Post H . . spinu/osa spinu/osa

Table 3. Number of of Number 3. Table H. H. spinulosa spinulosa on on M. M. invisa invisa at six sites around Pohnpei and on one location in Yap in location one on and Pohnpei around sites six at . .

Figure 2. Sickly looking looking Sickly 2. Figure

by Willson Willson by

the stems became brittle. brittle. became stems the

oi efcs fslvr ijcin ytepyld uig edn (okno 1974) (Hodkinson feeding during psyllid the by injection salivary of effects toxic

soon as yellowing of leaves became noticeable and stems started to become brown, brown, become to started stems and noticeable became leaves of yellowing as soon

It could also be caused by the loss of plant sap due to continual direct feeding. As As feeding. direct continual to due sap plant of loss the by caused be also could It

n ses eae brown became stems and

nicipality of Yap State. High High State. Yap of nicipality

visa. visa.

the two previously non release sites on Pohnpei (Table 4). In less than a year, year, a than less In 4). (Table Pohnpei on sites release non previously two the

tions were made on on made were tions

invisa invisa

turned brownish. Two months later the plants died (Figures (Figures died plants the later months Two brownish. turned

In subsequent counts, fewer leaves and general yellowing occurred and the stems stems the and occurred yellowing general and leaves fewer counts, subsequent In

cases more than 5 adults were counted. The plants began to look sickly 6 months months 6 sickly look to began plants The counted. were adults 5 than more cases

than one adult could be recovered from 30 cm long stem of of stem long cm 30 from recovered be could adult one than

after the psyllid establishment when younger leaves started to become yellowish. yellowish. become to started leaves younger when establishment psyllid the after

Similar observations on on observations Similar

The growth abnormalities exhibited exhibited abnormalities growth The

In 1996, 1996, In

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

The leaves were yellowish and the growing tips of the weed were deformed deformed were weed the of tips growing the and yellowish were leaves The

became sickly and died. died. and sickly became

& &

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

Garcia ( 1992) and Willson (1987) in Australia and Brazil. High pop- High Brazil. and in Australia (1987) Willson ( and 1992) Garcia

was established in most of the release sites on Pohnpei. More More Pohnpei. on sites release the of most in established was

Mimosa Mimosa

. .

Esguerra et al.: Control of of Control al.: et Esguerra

Two to three months later, the weed died. died. weed the later, months three to Two

was established on on established was

8 8

a a

H. H.

months after releasing releasing after months

. .

few months after after months few

invisa invisa

spinulosa spinulosa

when attacked by by attacked when

by M. invisa invisa M. by

populations caused stunting of of stunting caused populations

Mimosa invisia invisia Mimosa

M. invisa invisa M.

H. spinulosa H.

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

may be attributable to the the to attributable be may

netd ra nKnf Mu Kanif in area infested

H. spinulosa spinulosa H.

. .

2, 2,

) iia observa Similar 3).

M. M.

was established on on established was

invisa. invisa.

were noted noted were

In some some In

M. M.

M M

425 425 . .

1 1

87 87

88 88

44 44

49 49

163 163

157 157

on on two

123 123

Dolon, Dolon, Sokehs

invisa invisa

Heteropsylla

M. M.

sp. sp. on

7 7

Number Number of

33 33

99 99

16 16

90 90

32 32

186 186

132 132

105 105

166 166

130 130

were were based from 30 cm long stems

Palikir Palikir

Heteropsylla Heteropsylla

Micronesica 30(2), 1997 1997 30(2), Micronesica

spinulosa. spinulosa.

H. spinulosa H. spinulosa

weeds weeds

H. H.

Population Population of

selected selected non release sites on Pohnpei, FSM

invisa invisa

due due to

4. 4.

M M

invisa invisa

100 100

Table Table

Total Total numbers of

M M

of of

December December 1996 September September 1996

October October 1996 January January 1997

August August 1996

June June 1996

May May 1996

November November 1996

April April 1996 July July 1996

March March 1996

February February 1996

Month Month

January January 1996

Dead Dead

. .

Figure Figure 426 426

eevd a 1997 May 3 Received

Willson, B. B. Willson,

Hodkinson, I. D. 1974. The biology of psylloidea (Homoptera); a review. Bulletin Bulletin review. a (Homoptera); psylloidea of biology The 1974. D. I. Hodkinson,

Whistler, Whistler,

Holms, Holms,

Garcia, Garcia,

growing shrubs have taken over. over. taken have shrubs growing

Yap. In areas where where areas In Yap.

ducing the threat of of threat the ducing

aging aging

el oee ln. iial o a,pyld ae tl peet n svrl dam severely and present still are psyllids Yap, on Similarly land. opened newly

on on

distorted and flowering reduced. reduced. flowering and distorted

vary secretions of the nymphs. Severely damaged damaged Severely nymphs. the of secretions vary

ulations of of ulations

M M

spinulosa spinulosa

Fletcher Research Station, Department of Lands, Queensland, Australia. Australia. Queensland, Lands, of Department Station, Research Fletcher

for the biological control of of control biological the for

Research Station, Department of Lands, Queensland, Australia. Australia. Queensland, Lands, of Department Station, Research

West Germany. Germany. West

visa visa

lidae), an agent for the biological control of giant sensitive plant plant sensitive giant of control biological the for agent an lidae),

fur Technische Zusamenarbeit (GTZ) Misc. Publication No. 157. Eschorn, Eschorn, 157. No. Publication Misc. (GTZ) Zusamenarbeit Technische fur

of Entomological Research 64: 325-339. 325-339. 64: Research Entomological of

609 pp. pp. 609

worst weeds, distribution and biology. University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu. Honolulu. Hawaii, of Press University biology. and distribution weeds, worst

mosa invisa invisa mosa

(Homoptera: Psyllidae), a potential agent for the biological control of of control biological the for agent potential a Psyllidae), (Homoptera: M. invisa invisa M.

Four years after introduction on Pohnpei, Pohnpei, on introduction after years Four

M. invisa invisa M.

invisa. invisa.

C. C.

L. L.

Mart: Mimosaceae) in Queensland. Unpublished Report. Alan Fletcher Fletcher Alan Report. Unpublished Queensland. in Mimosaceae) Mart:

W. W.

A. 1985. A preliminary report on the host specificity of of specificity host the on report preliminary A 1985. A.

G., G.,

W. W.

H. H.

A. 1983. Weed handbook of Western Samoa. Duetsche Gesellschaft Gesellschaft Duetsche Samoa. Western of handbook Weed 1983. A.

(Homoptera:Psyllidae) introduced to Australia and Western Samoa Samoa Western and Australia to introduced (Homoptera:Psyllidae)

& & It can be recovered from small patches of of patches small from recovered be can It

spinulosa spinulosa

1987. Host specificity report report specificity Host 1987.

F. F. L.

is no longer considered a threat to the vegetation on Pohnpei and and Pohnpei on vegetation the to threat a considered longer no is

two years after adults psyllids were introduced. introduced. were psyllids adults after years two

in Queensland, Australia. Unpublished Report. Report. Unpublished Australia. Queensland, in

C. A. Garcia. 1992. Host specificity and biology of of biology and specificity Host 1992. Garcia. A. C.

. .

M M

Plucknett, Plucknett,

invisa invisa

caused severe damage to to damage severe caused

Esguerra et al.: Control of of Control al.: et Esguerra

to the vegetation of both islands. islands. both of vegetation the to

used to occur extensively, common grasses and low low and grasses common extensively, occur to used

J. J.

H. H.

V V

References References

ioa invisa Mimosa

Pancho & & Pancho spinu/osa spinu/osa

onHeteropsylla onHeteropsylla

Mimosa invisia invisia Mimosa

H. H.

has significantly contributed in re in contributed significantly has

J. J.

spinulosa spinulosa

P. Herberger. 1977. The worlds worlds The 1977. Herberger. P.

M. invisa invisa M.

. .

Unpublished Report. Alan Alan Report. Unpublished

M M

is still well established established well still is

p Hmpea Psyl (Homoptera: sp.

y h ato o sali of action the by

were stunted, leaves leaves stunted, were

invisa invisa

Heteropsylla Heteropsylla

Mms in (Mimosa

growing on on growing

sp. sp. 427 427