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Beetle CHENI Chrysomelidae) Chrysomelidae) known as known known as as LiliocerisLiliocerisLilioceris chenicheni cheni (Coleoptera:(Coleoptera: (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)Chrysomelidae) Chrysomelidae) knownknown known asas as adults and larvae feedair potatoonair air thepotato potatobeetle, leaves beetle, wasbeetle, reducing discovered was was discovered plant discovered ingrowth Nepal in and and inNepal Nepal reproduc�on.China and and China China airairLiliocerisair potatopotato potato cheni beetle,beetle, beetle, (Coleoptera: waswas was discovereddiscovered discovered Chrysomelidae) inin in NepalNepal Nepal andand knownand ChinaChina China as growth and reproduc�on.by USDA -ARS. A�er years of study, scien�sts proved Figure 1: Leaves and aerial tubersbybybyairby ofby USDA USDA potato USDA USDA air USDA potato--ARS.ARS.-- ARS.ARS.beetle,- ARS. 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BeetleprovedBeetle potato.Beetle Beetle Beetle adultsthat and this larvae beetle feed feeds on exclusively the leaves on airreducing potato. plant Beetle Release of air potato beetles Why is air potatoadultsadultsadultsadults adultsinvasive? andand and andlarvaelarvae larvaelarvae larvae feedfeed feed feed ononfeed on thethe onthe on leavesleavesthe leaves the leaves reducingreducing leavesreducing reducing reducingplantplant plant plant plant growthgrowthadultsgrowth and andandreproduc�on. and reproduc�on.larvae reproduc�on. feed on the leaves reducing plant Figure 1: Leaves and aerial tubes of air potato growthgrowthgrowthgrowth and and reproduc�on.and reproduc�on.reproduc�on. reproduc�on. What to expect a�er release? Why is air potato invasive? growth and reproduction. Figure 1: LeavesFigure and: 1 Leaves: Leaves aerial and and tubersAir aerial aerial potato oftubers tubersair potato of isof air air na�ve potato vines potato vines vines to Asia and Africa, and was in- What to expect a�er release? FigureFigureFigure 11: 1Leaves: Leaves and and aerial aerial tubers tubers of ofair air potato potato vines vines LifeLifeLife stagesLife stagesstages stages of ofofthe of thethe theair airair airpotato potatopotato potato beetle beetlebeetle beetle ReleaseRelease of air potato of air beetles potato beetles FigureFigure 1: Leaves1: Leaves and and aerial aerial tubers tubers of airof airpotato potato vines vines LIFELifeLifeLife STAGES stagesstages stages OF of ofTHE the of the AIR theair air POTATOpotato air potato potato beetleBEETLE beetle beetle ReleaseReleaseRelease ofof of airair air potatopotato potato beetlesbeetles beetles Air potato is na�ve to Asia and WHY Africa, IS and AIR was POTATO in-troduced intoINVASIVE? the US in the 1770s. This vine grows ReleaseRelease of airof airpotato potato beetlesThe beetles adult beetles will start feeding on leaves of air troduced into the US in the 1770s.Why ThisWhyWhy isWhy vineair isis ispotatogrows airair air potatofastpotato potato coveringinvasive? invasive?invasive? invasive? large areas, smothering na�ve species, The adult beetles will start feeding on leaves of airpotato vines at the release site (Fig. 3). Larval feeding WhatWhatWhatWhatWHAT toto to expectexpectexpect expect TO a�era�er a�er a�erEXPECT release?release? release? fast covering large areas, smotheringWhyAirWhy potato na�ve is is isair nativeairspecies, potato potatotoreducing Asia and invasive? invasive? biodiversityAfrica, and was and altering local communi�es potato vines at the release site (Fig. 3). Larval feedingwill be evident few weeks later. 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Adults the winter.Air will potato beAdults ac�ve vine will againbewill active remain by again nextat the by May next site, or but at lower densi�es. (Fig.ecosystems(Fig. 2). 2). Air Air inpotato Louisiana.potato is ais threatening a threatening urban urban and and natural natural June.June.June. AsAs As beetlebeetleing beetleing and popula�onspopula�onsand popula�ons remain remain increase,dormantincrease, increase,dormant adultsadults (diapauseadults (diapause willwill will startstart startstate) state) during during the the June. As beetle popula�ons increase, adults will start at the site, but atdispersing dispersinglowerMay or densi�es.winter. toJune. winter.to close close As - Adultsbybeetle- by Adults sites. sites. populations willAir Air will potato potato be be ac�ve vine increase, ac�vevine will will again remain again remainadults by by next next May May or or ecosystemsecosystems in inLouisiana. Louisiana. dispersingdispersingdispersing to to closeclose close--byby-by sites. sites. sites. Air Air Air potato potatopotato vine vine will willwill remain remainremain atat at thethewill the site, site,start site,June. butbut June.dispersingbut atat Asat lowerlower Aslower beetle beetle to densi�es.densi�es. densi�es.close-by popula�ons popula�ons sites. Air increase, potato increase, vine adults adults will will start start at the site, but at lower densi�es. will remaindispersingdispersing at the site, to to closebut close at- bylower-by sites. sites.densities. Air Air potato potato vine vine will will remain remain

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Beetle females (1/3 inch long) lay egg masses on un- Beetle females (1/3 inch long) lay egg masses on un-derside of the leaves, and make cup-like leaf shape. BeetleBeetleBeetleBeetle females females femalesfemales (1/3(1/3 (1/3 inchinch inch long)long) long)long) laylay lay layeggegg egg egg massesmasses masses masses onon on un- un- onun- derside of the leaves,Beetle and femalesmake cup (1/3-like inch leaf long) shape. lay Larvaeegg masses hatch on in un- 4-5 days and start feeding in groups on dersidedersideundersidederside ofof of theofthe the the leaves,leaves, leaves,leaves, andand and makemake makemake cupcup cup-likecup--likelike-like leaf leafleaf leaf shape.shape. shape. Larvae hatch in 4-5 daysderside andLarvaeLarvaeLarvaeLarvae ofstart hatchhatchthe hatch feeding leaves, inin in 44 --454-55- 5days daysinand days days groups andandmake and and startstart start onstartcupnew feedingfeeding feeding- likefeeding leaves. leaf inin in groupsgroups in groupsshape. Oldergroups onon on larvae will stop feeding and pupate new leaves. Older larvaeLarvae newnewBeetlewillonnew Beetlehatch newleaves.leaves.stop leaves. females inleaves. femalesfeeding 4OlderOlder -Older5 days Older larvae(1/3larvae larvae and(1/3and inch larvae will will startpupate inchwill stopstoplong) stopfeeding willlong)in feeding feeding feeding thestoplay lay in egg soil.feeding and groupsandegg and masses pupatepupate Twomassespupate onand weekson on un- un- a�er �on, new adults Figure 2: Air potato infestation in South Louisiana newin indersideleaves.pupatein thederside the the soil. soil. Older in soil.of the of Two Two the Two larvaethesoil. weeksleaves, weeks weeks leaves,Two will a�er a�er weeksstopand a�er and pupa�on, pupa�on, feeding make pupa�on,after make pupation,cup and newcup new - new likepupate - like adults adults adultsleafnew leaf shape. shape. Figure 3: Adult and larval feeding damage in the soil. Two weeks a�er pupa�on, new adultsemerge and the cycle starts again.FigureFigureFigure 33:: 3 AdultAdult: Adult andand and larvallarval larval feedingfeeding feeding damagedamage damage Figure 2: Air potato infesta�onin theemergeemerge Larvaeinadultsemerge LarvaeSouth soil. emerge andandhatch TwoLouisianaand hatch thethe the weeks andin cyclecycle cycle in4 -the 5 4 starts starts - days a�erstarts5cycle days again.again. and startsagain. pupa�on, and start again. start feeding new feeding adults in ingroupsFigure groups 3 :on Adult on and FigurelarvalFigure 3 feeding 3: Adult damage and larval feeding damage FigureFigureFigure 22:: 2 AirAir: Air potatopotato potato infesta�oninfesta�on infesta�onemerge inin in SouthSouth South andLouisianaLouisiana Louisiana the cycle starts again. Figure 3: Adult and larval feeding damage Figure 2: Air potato infesta�on in South Louisiana emergenewnew and leaves. theleaves. cycle Older Older starts larvae larvaeagain. will will stop stop feeding feeding and and pupate pupate Figure 2: Air potato infesta�on in South Louisiana in in the the soil. soil. Two Two weeks weeks a�er a�er pupa�on, pupa�on, new new adults adults : Adult: Adult and and larval larval feeding feeding damage damage emergeemerge and and the the cycle cycle starts starts again. again. FigureFigure 3 3 FigureFigure 2: Air2: Air potato potato infesta�on infesta�on in Southin South Louisiana Louisiana How to recognize air potato? How can we manage air potato? How can I get beetles?

Manual removal of vines and bulbils is recommend- If you have air potato on your property, you can obtain Air potato (Dioscorea bulbifera L.) is a perennial vine ed for small infesta�ons. Chemical control should be beetles at no charge. Contact Dr. Veronica Manrique or in the family Dioscoreaceae. It is recognized by heart- used with cau�on. However, a more ecologically- Charity Schaffer (Southern University): shaped leaves and aerial tubers or bulbils that fall to friendly approach is available. Biological control is HowHow to to recognize recognizethe ground air air potato? topotato? produce new plantsHowHow vegeta�vely can can we we (Fig. manage manage air air potato? potato? HowHow can can I getI [email protected] beetles? beetles? the use of specialist insects to manage invasive spe- BEETLES IN ACTION FOR MORE INFORMATION BIOLOGICAL CONTROL 1). Ac�ve growth occurs from ManualMayManual to removal November,removal of ofvines vines and and bulbils bulbils is isrecommend- recommend- If youIf you have have air air potato potato on on your your property, property, you you can can obtain obtain AirAir potato potato (Dioscorea (Dioscorea bulbifera bulbifera L. ) L.is) isa perenniala perennial vine vine cies. This approach is safe, sustainable and cost- charity_schaff[email protected] and plants senesce and dieback duringeded for for the small small winter. infesta�ons. infesta�ons. Chemical Chemical control control should should be be beetlesbeetles at atno no charge. charge. Contact Contact Dr. Dr. Veronica Veronica Manrique Manrique or or of in inthe the family family Dioscoreaceae. Dioscoreaceae. It isIt recognizedis recognized by by heart heart- - effec�ve. Phone: 225-771-6224 usedused with with cau�on. cau�on. However, However, a amore more ecologically ecologically- - CharityCharity Schaffer Schaffer (Southern (Southern University): University): shapedshaped leaves leaves and and aerial aerial tubers tubers or orbulbils bulbils that that fall fall to to AIR friendlyfriendly approach approach is isavailable. available. Biological Biological control control is is thethe ground ground to to produce produce new new plants plants vegeta�vely vegeta�vely (Fig. (Fig. [email protected][email protected] thethe use use of ofspecialist specialist insects insects Biologicalto tomanage manage invasive invasive control spe- spe- using L. cheni 1).1). Ac�ve Ac�ve growth growth occurs occurs from from May May to toNovember, November, cies.cies. This This approach approach is issafe, safe,Lilioceris sustainable sustainable cheni (Coleoptera:and and cost cost- - Chrysomelidae)charity_schaff[email protected]_schaff[email protected] known as andand plants plants senesce senesce and and dieback dieback during during the the winter. winter. POTATOIN LOUISIANA effec�ve.effec�ve. air potato beetle, was discoveredPhone:Phone: in Nepal225 225-771 -and771-6224 -China6224 by USDA-ARS. A�er years of study, scien�sts proved BiologicalBiological control controlthat using thisusing beetle L. L. chenifeeds cheni exclusively on air potato. Beetle The LSU website provides further LiliocerisLilioceris cheni cheni (Coleoptera: (Coleoptera: adultsChrysomelidae) Chrysomelidae) and larvae known knownfeed ason as the leaves reducing plant growth and reproduc�on. information on the biological control airair potato potato beetle, beetle, was was discovered discovered in inNepal Nepal and and China China program of air potato in Louisiana: Figure 1: Leaves and aerial tubersby ofby USDA air USDA potato-ARS.-ARS. vines A�er A�er years years of of study, study, scien�sts scien�sts proved proved Life stages of the air potato beetle Release of air potato beetles thatthat this this beetle beetle feeds feeds exclusively exclusively on on air air potato. potato. Beetle Beetle www.lsuagcenter.com/airpotato adultsadults and and larvae larvae feed feed on on the the leaves leaves reducing reducing plant plant Why is air potato invasive? Dr. Veronica Manrique, Department of growthgrowth and and reproduc�on. reproduc�on. What to expect a�er release? Air potato is na�ve to Asia and Africa, and was in- Urban Forestry, SouthernAUniversity: FigureFigure 1: Leaves1: Leaves and and aerial aerial tubers tubers of airof airpotato potato vines vines [email protected] troduced into the US in the 1770s. LifeThisLife stagesvine stages grows of of the the air air potato potato beetle beetle ReleaseRelease of airof airpotato potato beetlesThe beetles adult beetles will start feeding on leaves of air fast covering large areas, smothering na�ve species, potato vines at the release site (Fig. 3). Larval feeding Lumen Christi Retreat Center, Schriever, LA (2016) Dr. Rodrigo Diaz, Department of WhyWhy is is air air potato potatoreducing invasive? invasive? biodiversity and altering local communi�es will be evident few weeks later. Beetles will stop feed- WhatWhat to to expect expect a�er a�er release? release? Entomology, Louisiana State University: AirAir potato potato is is na�ve na�ve to to Asia Asia(Fig. and and2). Africa, Air Africa, potato and and wasis wasa threatening in- in- urban and natural ing and remain dormant (diapause state) during the winter. Adults will be ac�ve again by next May or [email protected] troducedtroduced into into the the US US in intheecosystems the 1770s. 1770s. This inThis Louisiana.vine vine grows grows TheThe adult adult beetles beetles will will start start feeding feeding on on leaves leaves of ofair air SCIENTISTS AT June. As beetle popula�ons increase, adults will start fastfast covering covering large large areas, areas, smothering smothering na�ve na�ve species, species, potatopotato vines vines at atthe the release release site site (Fig. (Fig. 3). 3). Larval Larval feeding feeding willwill be be evident evident few few weeks weeks later. later.dispersing Beetles Beetles will to will closestop stop -feed-by feed- sites. Air potato vine will WORKremain reducingreducing biodiversity biodiversity and and altering altering local local communi�es communi�es Pictures were taken by V. Manrique, R. Diaz, inging and and remain remain dormant dormant (diapause (diapauseat the site,state) state) but during atduring lower the the densi�es. (Fig.(Fig. 2). 2). Air Air potato potato is ais threateninga threatening urban urban and and natural natural C. Schaffer, S. Spinner, L. Moshman, J. winter.winter. Adults Adults will will be be ac�ve ac�ve again again by by next next May May or or ecosystemsecosystems in inLouisiana. Louisiana. Hartgerink and FDACS, Division of Plant June.June. As As beetle beetle popula�ons popula�ons increase, increase, adults adults will will start start dispersingdispersing to toclose close-by-by sites. sites. Air Air potato potato vine vine will will remain remain Industry at atthe the site, site, but but at atlower lower densi�es. densi�es. Beetle females (1/3 inch long) lay egg masses on un- derside of the leaves, and make cup-like leaf shape. Larvae hatch in 4-5 days and start feeding in groups on new leaves. Older larvae will stop feeding and pupate Southern University joined forces with BeetleBeetle females females (1/3 (1/3 inch inch long) long)in thelay lay egg soil. egg masses Twomasses weekson on un- un- a�er pupa�on, new adults Louisiana State University to combat : Adult and larval feeding damage dersidederside of ofthe the leaves, leaves, and and makeemerge make cup andcup-like- thelike leaf cycleleaf shape. shape.starts again. Figure 3 invasive species in Louisiana Figure 2: Air potato infesta�on Larvaein LarvaeSouth hatch Louisiana hatch in in4 - 54 -days5 days and and start start feeding feeding in ingroups groups on on newnew leaves. leaves. Older Older larvae larvae will will stop stop feeding feeding and and pupate pupate in in the the soil. soil. Two Two weeks weeks a�er a�er pupa�on, pupa�on, new new adults adults : Adult: Adult and and larval larval feeding feeding damage damage emergeemerge and and the the cycle cycle starts starts again. again. FigureFigure 3 3 FigureFigure 2: Air2: Air potato potato infesta�on infesta�on in Southin South Louisiana Louisiana