81 Establishment of two biocontrol agents on Chromolaena odorata in South Africa Lorraine W. Strathiel*, Costas Zachariadesl, Mil ly Gareebl and Debbie Sharpe 'ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X6006, Hilton 3245, South Africa 2Working for Water Program, Department of Water Affairs & Forestry, Private Bag X24, Howick 3290, South Africa, E-mail:
[email protected] Abstract. Two insect species have been established on Chromolaena odorata along the southern coast of KwaZulu-Natal province (KZN), South Africa, and are spreading and increasing in density. Pareuchaetes insulata (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) has a similar biology to the widely used congener P. pseudoinsulata. A culture of P. insulata collected from Florida, USA, was mass-reared and released at 17 sites from 2001 to 2003. The site, near the coastal town of Umkomaas, at which the greatest number of larvae was released is the only site at which they established. In late 2004, after the insect had virtually disappeared from the site during the 20 months after releases had ended, an outbreak was found 0.5 km from the point of release. Over the ensuing months, P. insulata re-appeared throughout the area within 1 km of this point. With good, prolonged summer rains in 2006, the population increased dramatically and plants within a 4 km radius of the release point, particularly in shady areas, were extensively defoliated and became yellow in color. Plant height was markedly decreased and in some places the plants were being out- competed by other species. Indicators of the presence of P. insulata were recorded over 20 km away in either direction along the coast and 10km inland.