Biocontrol Science and Technology ISSN: 0958-3157 (Print) 1360-0478 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/cbst20 Research article: life history and host range of Prochoerodes onustaria, an unsuitable classical biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree E. Jones & G. S. Wheeler To cite this article: E. Jones & G. S. Wheeler (2017) Research article: life history and host range of Prochoerodes onustaria, an unsuitable classical biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree, Biocontrol Science and Technology, 27:4, 565-580, DOI: 10.1080/09583157.2017.1325837 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2017.1325837 Published online: 16 May 2017. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 24 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=cbst20 Download by: [University of Florida] Date: 13 July 2017, At: 08:24 BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 2017 VOL. 27, NO. 4, 565–580 https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2017.1325837 Research article: life history and host range of Prochoerodes onustaria, an unsuitable classical biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree E. Jonesa,b and G. S. Wheelera aUSDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA; bSCA/AmeriCorps, Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA ABSTRACT ARTICLE HISTORY The life history and host range of the South American defoliator Received 13 January 2017 Prochoerodes onustaria (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) were examined Accepted 26 April 2017 to determine its suitability as a classical biological control agent of KEYWORDS the invasive weed Brazilian Peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia,in Schinus terebinthifolia; the U.S.A. Larvae were collected feeding on S. terebinthifolia in Anacardiaceae; Geometridae; Brazil and were colonised and tested in quarantine. Life history invasive weeds; observations indicated that 54% (n = 63) of larvae reared on consumption; specific leaf S. terebinthifolia leaves survived to adulthood and 65% of adults area (n = 34) required five instars. Development time from eclosion to adult did not differ by sex: males required 42.9 ± 1.1 days and females required 41.1 ± 0.9 days. No-choice host range tests were conducted on 11 species in two families (Anacardiaceae and Sapindaceae), including U.S.A. native, commercial, and ornamental species. Larvae completed development on all species, although survival differed significantly among them. Larvae fed Anacardium occidentale, Cotinus coggygria, Dodonaea viscosa, and Mangifera indica demonstrated higher survival than those on S. terebinthifolia, whereas survival was reduced among larvae fed Metopium toxiferum and Comocladia dodonaea. Consumption was significantly greater on M. toxiferum than on the other species. The results presented here suggest that P. onustaria is highly polyphagous, feeding and completing development on members of two related plant families, and is not suitable for biological control of Brazilian peppertree in the U.S.A. 1. Introduction Valued for its vibrant red fruit and evergreen foliage, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapin- dales: Anacardiaceae) was introduced to over 20 countries in the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia as an ornamental in the nineteenth century (Ewel, Ojima, Karl, & DeBusk, 1982; Morton, 1978; Pell, Mitchell, Miller, & Lobova, 2011). Today, S. terebinthifolia is an inva- sive weed in many regions of the world, including the states of Florida, California, Texas, and Hawai’i in the U.S.A (CABI, 2016; USDA/NRCS, 2016). In Florida, where it is com- monly known as ‘Brazilian peppertree,’ S. terebinthifolia is a state-designated noxious CONTACT G. S. Wheeler [email protected] USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, Ft Lauderdale, FL, USA © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group 566 E. JONES AND G. S. WHEELER weed and prohibited plant and is listed as a Category I Invasive Exotic by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC, 2015). Schinus terebinthifolia (hereafter Schinus) is native to the east coast of Brazil, northern Argentina, and Paraguay (Barkley, 1944; JBRJ, 2015; Mukherjee et al., 2012). In the U.S.A, Schinus occurs as a multi-stemmed, drooping tree capable of colonising a wide range of habitats, including areas of high moisture (Ewe & Sternberg, 2002), salinity (Mytinger & Williamson, 1987), and shade (Ewel et al., 1982). A vigorous grower prone to producing monocultures in areas disturbed by human activity, such as roadsides and canal banks, Schinus is also highly capable of invading largely undisturbed hammocks, pinelands, man- grove forests, and wetlands, including areas of Everglades National Park (Ewel et al., 1982; Rodgers, Pernas, & Hill, 2014). Its aggressive intrusion threatens the biodiversity of native habitats, which support native imperiled species, such as the state-threatened gopher tor- toise (Gopherus polyphemus Daudin) (Doren & Jones, 1997) and the federally endangered Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi Bangs) (Maffei, 1997). Schinus was recently esti- mated to occupy more than 280,000 hectares in peninsular Florida alone (Ferriter, 1997; Schmitz, Simberloff, Hofstetter, Haller, & Sutton, 1997). The abundant drupe production by Schinus between October and December each year provides a plentiful food source for birds and mammals when many native plants have completed their reproduction cycle, resulting in ingestion and widespread dispersal (Ewel et al., 1982). Despite this apparent benefit for native frugivores, the drupes can have paralysing effects on birds (Campello & Marsaioli, 1974; Kinde et al., 2012), and con- sumption of plant material is reported to cause illness in livestock and horses (Morton, 1978). A cardanol produced by Schinus drupes causes an itchy, blistering rash on human skin, and a similar rash is reported to result from contact with the weed’s sap (Morton, 1978; Stahl, Keller, & Blinn, 1983). Some individuals also experience respiratory irritation when the plant is in bloom (Morton, 1978). In addition, Schinus is known to produce allelopathic compounds that can inhibit the growth of native plant species (Don- nelly, Green, & Walters, 2008; Morgan & Overholt, 2005). As a member of the Anacardiaceae, Schinus is closely related to several Florida natives and is also confamilial with Mangifera indica L. (mango) and Pistacia vera L. (pistachio nut), two food crops that are produced commercially in the Schinus-invaded range (Pell et al., 2011; Perez & Ferreira, 2016; USDA/NASS, 2016). Schinus serves as an alternate host of several agricultural pests known to attack these and other commercial species: namely, red-banded thrips (Selenothrips rubrocinctus Giard) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) (Cassani, 1986; Morton, 1978; Mossler & Crane, 2002), black vine thrips (Retithrips syria- cus Mayet) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) (Wheeler unpublished data), and the root weevil Diaprepes abbreviates (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) – a major pest of the citrus indus- try in Florida (Hall et al., 2001; McCoy, Stuart, & Nigg, 2003). Efforts to control Schinus mechanically are complicated by the weed’s tendency to sprout shoots from cut stumps and branches, often requiring application of chemical her- bicides to prevent vegetative regrowth (Ferriter, 1997; Langeland, 2002). Though the plant often forms monocultures, Schinus thickets also contain native plant species, making clear cutting or widespread herbicide application problematic (Ewel et al., 1982). In 2011, the South Florida Water Management District reported fiscal year spending on Schinus removal (including mechanical and chemical methods) totalled $1795k – greater than that spent controlling the highly invasive Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake BIOCONTROL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 567 (Rodgers, Bodle, Black, & Laroche, 2012). For these reasons, and because many areas infested by Schinus are remote and inaccessible, classical biological control is being con- sidered to complement other methods of management. Field surveys and literature reviews were conducted to assess the diversity of insects associated with Schinus in its native range (Bennett & Habeck, 1991; Mc Kay et al., 2009; Silva et al., 1968). Using data collected with these methods, it was estimated that more than 150 phytophagous species consume Schinus in Brazil (Bennett & Habeck, 1991). Several of these species have been released as biological controls on Schinus in the Hawaiian Islands. The leaf-tying/defoliating caterpillar E. unguiculus (=utilis) Zim- merman (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), the gall forming caterpillar Crasimorpha infuscata Hodges (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and the seed feeding beetle Lithraeus atronotatus (Pic) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) were released in the 1950s and 1960s, although their com- bined effect on Schinus has been negligible (Hight, Cuda, & Medal, 2002; Krauss, 1962; Yoshioka & Markin, 1991). Several species of the families Coleoptera and Lepidoptera were recently tested and found to be unsuitable for biological control of Schinus in the U.S.A. (Wheeler et al., 2016). The sawfly Heteroperreyia hubrichi Malaise (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) was rec- ommended for release on the mainland (Medal et al., 1999), but was not considered safe for release in Hawai’i (Hight, Horiuchi, Vitorino, Wikler, & Pedrosa-Macedo, 2003). Two insects, the thrips Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothri- pidae) and the psyllid Calophya latiforceps Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Calophyidae), were recently