Preliminary Study on the Distribution of the Introduced
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Philippine Journal of Science 148 (1): 185-192, March 2019 ISSN 0031 - 7683 Date Received: 17 Aug 2018 Preliminary Study on the Distribution of the Introduced Gall-forming Fly, Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) for the Biological Control of the Invasive Alien Weed Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae) in the Philippines Patricia Bea R. Rosialda1,3, Ma. Niña Regina M. Quibod1,2*, and Michael D. Day4 1Biology Department, College of Science, Adamson University, San Marcelino St., Ermita, Manila 1000 Philippines 2Community Ecology and Conservation Group, Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303 China 3Crop Pest Management Division, Bureau of Plant Industry, Malate, Manila 1000 Philippines 4Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries GPO Box 267, Brisbane, Queensland 4001 Australia The distribution of Cecidochares connexa (Macquart), a biological control agent of the invasive plant Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. was determined around the three main islands – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao – in the Philippines. A total of 105 sites in 17 localities with C. odorata were surveyed for the presence of C. connexa. Cecidochares connexa was present at 82 sites in eight localities, limited to around Visayas and Mindanao. Some sites where the gall fly was reported were up to 400 km from the initial release sites around Davao, Mindanao. Cecidochares connexa was not found at any of the nine localities surveyed around Luzon. Visual observations showed that the gall fly is having some impact on C. odorata, as evidenced by dead branches and stems. These results show that C. connexa has firmly established in the country and that it has the ability to disperse long distances to new areas. It is likely that C. connexa will continue to disperse further with time. However, a more robust study regarding its presence in other parts of the country and its effectiveness as a biological control agent is needed. Key words: impact, Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao INTRODUCTION $1.4 trillion annually in damage worldwide (Pimentel et al. 2001) and this is likely to have increased. For Invasive alien species (IAS) are non-native organisms instance, the total annual losses that can be attributed to that have an adverse ecological and economic impact harmful non-indigenous species – including crop pests on the environment and the communities around them (i.e., insects, weeds, and pathogens); molluscs (golden (Bruton & Merron 1985, De Silva 1989). Seventeen years apple snail); rodents; animal diseases; and human ago, invasive species were estimated to cause more than diseases (i.e., measles, malaria, cholera, dengue, human *Corresponding author: [email protected] immunodeficiency virus, and Severe Acute Respiratory 185 Philippine Journal of Science Rosialda et al.: Distribution of Gall Fly in the Philippines Vol. 148 No. 1, March 2019 Syndrome) on agricultural systems, human health, and the leaf-feeding moth Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego environment for each of the 10 member countries of the Barros (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and the stem-galling fly Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae) estimated at $33.2 billion – with $21.6 billion being the (Zachariades et al. 2009). Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata estimated annual total losses to crop production by non- spread into the Philippines unaided into the Palawan native weeds, insects, and pathogens (Nghiem et al. 2013). Islands in 1985 and subsequently spread throughout the country (Waterhouse 1994, Muniappan et al. 2005). IAS are one of the major agricultural problems the However, no study has ever been conducted regarding its Philippines has been battling for many years. One of these effectiveness as a biological control agent in the country. species is the neotropical weed Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King & H. Rob. (Asteraceae), known locally as Cecidochares connexa is part of a species complex native hagonoy (Oerke et al. 1994, Sinohin & Cuaterno 2003). to tropical South America (Prado et al. 2002) and was first It was first recorded in the Philippines on the Zamboanga utilized as a biological control agent for C. odorata in Peninsula in the 1960s through traders from Borneo Indonesia, where it was imported from Colombia in 1993. (Codilla & Metillo 2011). Subsequently, it was documented Specimens of the insect that was tested and released in on Busuanga Island, Palawan; at Davao City; and San Jose, Indonesia were lodged with the Australian National Insect Mindoro Occidental (Pancho & Plucknett 1971, Aterrado Collection, Canberra (McFadyen et al. 2003). Specimens & Bachiller 2002, Lariosa et al. 2003, Codilla & Metillo were also lodged at IOPRI, Marihat Research Station, 2011), and is now recorded throughout the archipelago. Sumatra, Indonesia where the research was undertaken. Following host-specificity testing against 55 species Chromolaena odorata is a serious invader of many crop representing 17 families and its subsequent field release lands, plantations, wastelands, rangelands, and reforested in Indonesia (McFadyen et al. 2003), a small colony of C. areas – infesting up to about 500,000 hectares (Aterrado & connexa was imported from Indonesia into the Philippines Bachiller 2002, Acasio 2003) and is considered one of the in 1999. Additional host-specificity testing was conducted seven worst invasive species in the Philippines (Joshi 1989). in the Philippines at the quarantine confinement facility Chromolaena odorata is also found in nearly 50 other at the Philippine Coconut Authority – Davao Research tropical countries worldwide, causing major agronomic Center (PCA-DRC) from Aug 1999 to Mar 2000 (Aterrado problems (Awanyo 2008, Zachariades et al. 2009). & Bachiller 2002). The tests confirmed C. connexa was Chromolaena odorata is known to shade out other highly specific and should be an effective biological vegetation and for having allelopathic properties that control agent of C. odorata. However, despite being enables it to prevent the establishment of other plant host-specific, it was approved for release only around species, which reduces plant biodiversity. Chromolaena PCA-DRC. Monitoring confirmed its establishment at odorata also interferes with natural ecosystem processes some release sites but no further studies were conducted. and can alter the integrity of natural plant communities This study aimed to determine the current distribution of (Goodall & Zacharias 2002). It has toxic properties that C. connexa in the Philippines, 18 years after it was first cause livestock poisoning and is a fire hazard during the released in the country. Information from this study may dry season, affecting wildlife and animal husbandry (Joshi also provide assistance with the management of C. odorata 1989, Timbilla & Braimah 1991). These characteristics of using C. connexa. C. odorata, make it one of the world’s 100 worst invasive alien plant species (Lowe et al. 2000). Chromolaena odorata can be controlled by mechanical, chemical, and biological means (Rusdy 2015), with MATERIALS AND METHODS mechanical control being the most common method used. However, this method is labor-intensive and expensive Distribution of Cecidochares connexa (Groves 1989, Zachariades et al. 1999). Chemical control The distribution of C. connexa was determined by sampling can be used but has significant negative impacts on the sites where C. odorata was present on the main islands of environment and is rarely effective in the long term, as Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, as well as some smaller repeated applications are necessary (Luwum 2002, Rusdy nearby islands. Ninety-one sites around the Philippine 2015). Biological control, on the other hand, is a natural Coconut Authority – Davao Research Center (PCA-DRC) way of controlling IAS. Classical biological control is the were included in the study because it is the original point use of co-evolved host-specific natural enemies to control of release of C. connexa in 2000. PCA-DRC served as the the invasiveness of a species (McFadyen et al. 2003). reference point from which to measure the distance of the range extension of C. connexa to other parts of the country. Several biological control agents have been utilized to control C. odorata. The two most common are the At each site, C. odorata plants were examined by two 186 Philippine Journal of Science Rosialda et al.: Distribution of Gall Fly in the Philippines Vol. 148 No. 1, March 2019 people for a maximum time of 30 min for the presence of or branches were moribund) and recorded with a camera. galls on stems. For some sites, there was a high density of Impact assessment was based on those in Baars and Heystek galls, which were very evident and so the searching time (2003) as there were no comparable studies for C. odorata was shorter. As galls indicated the presence of C. connexa, and gall-forming insects. The categories were: (0) No the standard methods for the collection of insects using damage – no galls were observed and no characteristic beating sheets and insect nets were not used in this study. signs of new or old damage on the plants; (1) Slight – 1–5 Samples of galls were collected and some were dissected galls were seen per plant, with minimal damage (e.g., very to confirm that the galls were caused by C. connexa. Adult few moribund twigs present); (2) Moderate – 6–10 galls C. connexa that emerged from the