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Biological Control of Tropical Weeds with Central and South American Origin: Current Activities by CSIRO Entomology

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Biological Control of Tropical Weeds with Central and South American Origin: Current Activities by CSIRO Entomology Thirteenth Australian Weeds Conference Biological control of tropical weeds with Central and South American origin: current activities by CSIRO Entomology Mic Julien CSIRO Entomology, 120 Meiers Road, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia Summary CSIRO Entomology Tropical Weeds of Mexico at Acapulco, where the climate was simi- Project carries out research on the following weeds: lar to Darwin, Northern Territory (NT), and surveys mimosa (Mimosa pigra), parkinsonia (Parkinsonia continued on mimosa and hyptis, and were initiated aculeata), mesquite (Prosopis spp.), alligator weed on spinyhead sida (Sida acuta Burhman f.), sida retusa (Alternanthera philoxeroides), bellyache bush (Ja- (S. rhombifolia L.), and fl annel weed (S. cordifolia L.). tropha gossypiifolia), hyptis (Hyptis suaveolens), For improved convenience, the station was relocated and Mexican poppy (Argemone mexicana and A. to the east coast at Veracruz, Mexico, in December ochroleuca). 1986, where it remains today. From Veracruz additional The native range of these weeds is Neotropical plants surveyed include: bellyache bush (Jatropha Americas except for alligator weed that is from temper- gossypiifolia L.), lantana, Mexican poppy (Argemone ate South America. Studies on mesquite are centred in mexicana L. and A. ochroleuca), and parkinsonia (Par- Australia, evaluating the impact of a biological con- kinsonia aculeata L.). Surveys in the native ranges, and trol agent and developing integrated management. activities based from the Central and South American Studies of each of the other weeds involves one or fi eld stations, are the foundations of our research to a combination of the following activities; surveys develop biological control in Australia. in their native ranges, biological control agent biol- In addition, potential control agents have been in- ogy, host specifi city studies in Mexico and Brisbane, troduced from other sources, and studied and released plant ecology, post-release monitoring and evaluation on mesquite (Prosopis spp.), and water hyacinth (Eich- of agent populations, agent impact assessment, non- hornia crassipes (Martius) Solms-Laubach). target impact assessment and integrated management Current projects on temperate South American that includes biological control. Activities involve a grass weeds, serrated tussock (Nassella trichotoma national perspective on weed management and where (Nees) Hack. ex Arechav.), Chilean needlegrass (Nas- possible collaboration and cooperation with state de- sella neesiana (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth), and blue partments. A number of these projects are included in heliotrope (Heliotropium amplexicaule J.Vahl), are the CRC for Australian Weed Management. under study in the CSIRO Entomology Temperate Keywords Biological control, weeds, integrated Weeds Project and are not discussed here. weed management, native range, Central America, A precis of research activities and collaborations is South America. presented for each of these weeds. Potential for future research is also considered. INTRODUCTION Many weeds in northern Australia have their origins in CURRENT TARGET WEEDS the tropical Central and South Americas. The CSIRO Mimosa Exploration for biological control of Entomology Tropical Weeds research group based mimosa commenced in 1979. The fi rst agents, seed in Brisbane and Darwin, concentrates much of its feeding beetles, were released in the NT in 1983. research effort towards weeds of this origin. To assist To date 37 species (35 insects and two fungi) have this effort,a fi eld station is maintained in Mexico from been studied and 12 (10 insects and two fungi) have which survey work is conducted in the region. Initially, been released. Four of these, the seed feeding beetle, in the late 1960s and early 1970s, under Dr. Ken Harley, Acanthoscelides puniceus Johnson, the fl ower feed- a fi eld station was set up in Curitiba, Brazil, to survey ing weevil, Coelocephalapion pigrae Kissinger, the for potential agents on lantana (Lantana camara L.) tip boring moth, Neurostrota gunniella (Busck) and and later on mimosa (Mimosa pigra L.), hyptis (Hyp- the stem boring moth, Carmenta mimosa Eichlin & tis suaveolens (L.) Poit.), salvinia (Salvinia molesta Passoa, are widespread, abundant and damaging. Re- D.S.Mitchell), and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.). cent studies have shown that where these agents have Field collections of a known agent were also made on been present for a number of years, seed production alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Martius) and seed soil bank have been reduced by one to two Grisebach). The station was closed in February 1982. orders of magnitude and are approaching the levels In March 1984 a station was opened on the west coast found in mimosa’s native range (Paynter and Flanagan 361 Thirteenth Australian Weeds Conference 2002). In addition, sustained attack by C. mimosa over Table 1. Insect that either failed preliminary host several years has lead to plant death. Another recently range tests in Mexico or Brisbane or failed to survive released agent, the leaf-feeding beetle Malacorhinus on Australian hyptis. irregularis Jacoby, is increasing in the fi eld and may Potential agent Plant part Status have developed sustainable populations. attacked In 1997 the program broadened to include the Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae development of integrated management of mimosa. Metriona sp. Leaf feeder Ex Brazil. Failed The aim was to determine cost-effective management specifi city tests in tools and integrate them with biological control. This Brisbane in 2001 work is nearing completion, has provided exciting and Neocharida bifi da Leaf feeder Ex Brazil. Failed applicable results and is subject of a presentation at specifi city test in this conference (Paynter and Flanagan 2002). Brisbane in 1980s There are about fi ve potential biological control Coleoptera: Apionidae agents that remain to be assessed. Any one of these Coelocephalapion Leaf feeder Ex Mexico and may contribute to future control. The management of sp. Venezuela. Failed fi re and grazing to prevent reinvasion of cleared areas specifi city tests in Brisbane in 2000. by mimosa also requires investigation, as does the ma- nipulation of thickets to increase edges and so encour- Coleoptera: Bruchinae Meibomeus sp. Flower feeder Ex Venezuela. age population increase and damage by the important Failed to survive on agent C. mimosa. This project has been supported by Australian hyptis in the Federal and NT Governments, CSIRO Entomology 2001. and The Australian Centre for International Agricul- Diptera: tural Research (ACIAR). Calcomyza hyptidis Leaf miner Ex Mexico. Failed Spencer preliminary tests in Hyptis Exploration for potential agents began in Bra- Mexico in 1980s. zil with two major surveys conducted between 1979 Lepidoptera: Pyralidae and 1982 and several preliminary surveys in Venezuela Pyrausta panopealis Leaf and stem Ex Mexico. Failed and Mexico in 1981. When the fi eld station was moved (Walker) feeder preliminary tests in to Acapulco, surveys on hyptis in Mexico were carried Mexico in 1980s. out in conjunction with surveys on other weed spe- Nematoda cies until 1986 when work ceased. Variation in hyptis Unknown species ? Ex Mexico. Not plants was noted and very few natural enemies (12) specifi c. Studied in were found. It was considered that the chemistry of Mexico in c. 1990 this aromatic plant provided protection from herbivory. Several insect species were studied either in Mexico or Brisbane but none proved to be specifi c to hyptis Several species were imported into quarantine in (Table 1) (J.D. Gillett and K.L.S. Harley, unpublished Brisbane where they either failed to survive on Aus- results). A rust fungus, Puccinia hyptidis, also recorded tralian hyptis or they attacked a wide range of plant from hyptis has not yet been studied. species and so were eliminated (Table 1). During 2000, support increased and in the Surveys are planned in new areas of Central 2000–2001 and 2001–2002 growing seasons surveys America in Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica in were conducted in Venezuela and Mexico. The plant conjunction with surveys on other weeds. Depending is highly variable morphologically and there appears on fi eld availability and likely impact one or more of to be differences in the suite of insects encountered the unstudied insects will be collected and attempts on different forms. Molecular taxonomy is being used to rear and assess host ranges will be made either in to check plant population differences. Mexico or Brisbane. This work is supported by NT The insects collected recently include the follow- DBIRD and CSIRO Entomology. ing: fl ower feeding beetles, including Meibomeus sp., the chrysomelid leaf feeder Omorphoita sp., several Bellyache bush A project supported by NT DBIRD leaf and stem feeding weevils, including Coelocepha- began in 1997. Eight Caribbean and Central and South lapion sp., a stem galling weevil, and moths, includ- American countries have been surveyed to date and 61 ing a stem boring Sesiid, a Geometrid looper, and the insect and pathogen natural enemies recorded (Heard Pyralid moths Pyrausta that are now considered to be and Chan 2002). In the last four years QDNRM have fi ve or six different species. supported host range testing of agents in quarantine. 362 Thirteenth Australian Weeds Conference Four insects have been studied in Brisbane, three at all release sites across rangeland Australia. It is were rejected through lack of acceptable specifi city, most abundant in the Pilbara Region, WA,
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