Lantana: Current Management Lantana: Current Management Status and Future Prospects Status and Future Prospects Michael D. Day, Chris J. Wiley, Julia Playford & Myron P. Zalucki www.aciar.gov.au Lantana: Current Management Status and Future Prospects Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Canberra 2003 The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) was established in June 1982 by an Act of the Australian Parliament. Its primary mandate is to help identify agricultural problems in developing countries and to commission collaborative research between Australian and developing country researchers in fields where Australia has special competence. Where trade names are used this does not constitute endorsement of nor discrimination against any product by the Centre. ACIAR Monograph Series This series contains the results of original research supported by ACIAR, or material deemed relevant to ACIAR's research and development objectives. The series is distributed internationally, with an emphasis on developing countries. © Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research GPO Box 1571, Canberra, Australia 2601. http://www.aciar.gov.au email: [email protected] Day, Michael D; Wiley, Chris J; Playford, Julia and Zalucki, Myron. P. 2003. Lantana Current Management Status and Future Prospects. Canberra. ACIAR Monograph 102 ISBN 0 186 320 374 5 (printed) 0 186 320 375 3 (electronic) ISSN 1447-090X (online) Managing editor: Michael Welbourn, BEST Writing and Editing Services, Canberra, Australia Pre-press production: Nanette Mercer, Damson Digital Design, Adelaide, Australia Printing: Pirion, PO Box 438 Fyshwick, ACT 2609 The information provided in this monograph is correct at the time of print as far as can be ascertained. However, information of lantana’s presence or status in particular countries may not reflect what is actually occurring due to difficulties in obtaining that information. Also, some agents may be present in countries where the authors have not listed them, and hence the degree of damage would not be recorded. We have attempted to fill such gaps with personal communications and unpublished data; and the latter may be obtained from the principal author. Even so, some discrepancies may be expected, and we encourage readers who find them to contact the authors so that the information can be updated. ii Lantana: current management status and future prospects – M. Day, C.J. Wiley, J. Playford & M.P. Zalucki ACIAR Monograph 102, 2003 Contents Foreword 10.10. Ectaga garcia — 42 Summary & Recommendations 10.11. Epinotia lantana — 43 10.12. Eutreta xanthochaeta — 44 Acknowledgements 10.13. Falconia intermedia — 45 Part I. The Lantana Problem 10.14. Hypena laceratalis — 46 1. Taxonomy — 4 10.15. Lantanophaga pusillidactyla — 48 2. Description of Lantana camara — 5 10.16. Leptobyrsa decora — 49 3. Variability — 5 10.17. Mycovellosiella lantanae — 50 10.18. Neogalea sunia — 51 4. Distribution — 8 10.19. Octotoma championi — 52 4.1.Native distribution of the Lantana section Camara — 8 10.20. Octotoma scabripennis — 53 4.2.Naturalised distribution of Lantana camara — 9 10.21. Ophiomyia camarae — 55 5. Habitat — 10 10.22. Ophiomyia lantanae — 56 6. Ecology — 13 10.23. Orthezia insignis — 57 7. Impact — 16 10.24. Parevander xanthomelas — 58 7.1.Impact on the natural environment — 16 10.25. Phenacoccus parvus — 59 7.2.Impact on agricultural areas — 18 10.26. Plagiohammus spinipennis — 60 8. Uses of lantana — 20 10.27. Prospodium tuberculatum — 62 10.28. Pseudopyrausta santatalis — 62 Part II. Control of Lantana 10.29. Salbia haemorrhoidalis — 63 9. Conventional control — 25 10.30. Septoria sp. — 64 9.1.Chemical control — 25 10.31. Strymon bazochii — 65 9.2.Mechanical control — 27 10.32. Teleonemia bifasciata — 65 9.3.Control by fire — 28 10.33. Teleonemia elata — 65 9.4.Post-removal management — 28 10.34. Teleonemia harleyi — 66 10.Biological control — 29 10.35. Teleonemia prolixa — 67 10.1. Aconophora compressa — 31 10.36. Teleonemia scrupulosa — 67 10.2. Aerenicopsis championi — 35 10.37. Tmolus echion — 70 10.3. Alagoasa parana — 36 10.38. Uroplata fulvopustulata — 71 10.4. Apion spp. — 37 10.39. Uroplata girardi — 71 10.5. Autoplusia illustrata — 37 10.40. Uroplata lantanae — 73 10.6. Calycomyza lantanae — 38 11.Species imported, but not released — 73 10.7. Charidotis pygmaea — 39 11.1. Diastema morata — 73 10.8. Cremastobombycia lantanella — 40 11.2. Hepialus sp. — 73 10.9. Diastema tigris — 41 11.3. Langsdorfia franckii — 74 Lantana: current management status and future prospects – M. Day, C.J. Wiley, J. Playford & M.P. Zalucki ACIAR Monograph 102, 2003 iii 11.4. Octotoma gundlachi —74 11.5. Oedionychus sp. — 74 11.6. Omophoita albicollis — 74 11.7. Phassus argentiferus — 74 11.8. Teleonemia validicornis — 74 12.Factors influencing biocontrol of lantana — 75 12.1. Taxonomy — 75 12.2. Varietal differences — 79 12.3. Climate — 80 12.4. Plant biology and ecology — 84 12.5. Parasitism and predation — 86 12.6. Release techniques — 88 Part III. Future Directions 13.Control and management — 93 13.1. Selecting future lantana biological control agents — 94 13.2. Agents currently being considered for release — 97 13.2.1. Aceria lantanae — 97 13.2.2. Aerenica multipunctata — 98 CONTACT INFORMATION 13.2.3. Alagoasa extrema — 99 Michael D. Day 13.2.4. Ceratobasidium lantanae-camarae — 99 ALAN FLETCHER RESEARCH STATION 13.2.5. Coelocephalapion camarae — 99 PO Box 36, Sherwood, Qld 4075, Australia 13.2.6. Longitarsus sp. — 100 Chris J. Wiley ALAN FLETCHER RESEARCH STATION 13.2.7. Puccinia lantanae — 100 PO Box 36, Sherwood, Qld 4075, Australia 13.3. Integrated control techniques — 100 Current address: 13.4. Integrated control recommendations — 101 EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY CENTRE Department of Animal Ecology, 14.Research Uppsala University, 14.1. Classification and identification Norbyvägen 18D, SE 752 36 Uppsala, Sweden of naturalised taxa — 103 Julia Playford 14.2. Somatic mutations — 104 QUEENSLAND NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 14.3. Lantana biology and ecology — 105 PO Box 155, Brisbane Albert St, Qld 4002, Australia Myron P. Zalucki References — 109 DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY & ENTOMOLOGY Appendix — 125 University of Queensland, Qld 4072, Australia iv Lantana: current management status and future prospects – M. Day, C.J. Wiley, J. Playford & M.P. Zalucki ACIAR Monograph 102, 2003 Foreword Lantana was the first weed to be targeted for biological control This book brings together the available information about and has been researched longer than any other weed. Yet lantana and the insects and diseases that have been studied the program is one of the least successful. as its biocontrol agents. The first four chapters deal with the taxonomy and variability of lantana and related plants; it is an Since 1902, millions of dollars and many years of work have indication of the complexity of the weed that these topics occupy gone into searching for potential biocontrol agents and four chapters. The next five chapters cover its habitat and introducing them to the countries where lantana is a weed. ecology, impact as a weed, uses, and non-biological control In general, the results have been poor — lantana remains methods. The following three chapters list the 49 separate a major weed in most tropical and subtropical countries outside its native home in the Neotropics. agents introduced against lantana or studied for possible use, and discuss possible factors influencing their success or Many reasons have been suggested for this failure, for failure. The final two chapters look at potential new research example the nature of the plant itself, its great diversity and areas and make recommendations for future directions. ability to hybridise, and that its origin as a hybrid ornamental plant complicates the search for its centre of origin and thus As a succinct summary of the mass of information on lantana for potential agents. Searches have been made in Mexico, and its control, this book is intended as a tool for everyone Central America, the West Indies, and Brazil, and insects involved in lantana control as well as weed biocontrol have been collected from several different lantana species. scientists in general. We are very grateful to ACIAR for funding These insects have been host-tested and released in Hawaii, the publication of this book and to Paul Ferrar, Crop Science South Africa, Australia, several countries in east Africa, south Program Coordinator in ACIAR, for his continued support for and east Asia, and the Pacific. Over the years, enough papers lantana biocontrol. It is our hope that this book will mark the and reports have been written to fill a library, but many are completion of a century of biocontrol effort and the beginning either unpublished or only published in local journals. of a new and more successful phase of lantana control. Rachel McFadyen CEO, CRC Australian Weed Management Lantana: current management status and future prospects – M. Day, C.J. Wiley, J. Playford & M.P. Zalucki ACIAR Monograph 102, 2003 v Summary & Recommendations Lantana camara L. is a significant weed of which there are it is recommended that the importation of further varieties some 650 varieties in over 60 countries or island groups. and species of lantana be restricted in countries where the It has been the focus of biological control attempts for species is identified as a weed. a century, yet still poses major problems in many regions. Fully effective control techniques are not currently available Lantana has a significant impact on economic and environ- for this significant pest species. In many areas, the sheer mental areas and is difficult to control. The key to good size of the infestations coupled with low land values make management of lantana is constant vigilance. Repeated conventional control not feasible. However mechanical control of new regrowth is critical to success. Control of clearing and hand pulling are suitable for small areas, and new infestations should be a priority because the species fire can be used over large areas.