Plant Protection Quarterly VOI.4(2) 1989 61 Hartey (1973) listed a fifth species, a moth Lalllanopilaga pusil/idactyla (Walker) A history of biological control of Lantana camara in New (Pterophoridae), as being introduced about South wales this time. It established but remains of minor importance (Harley 1971). After the initial introductions there were E.E. Taylor, Wood Technology and Forest Research Division, Forestry Commis· no more until 1935-36 when the Council for sion of N.S.W., P.O. Box 100, Beecroft, New South Wales 2119, Australia Scientific and Industrial Research intro­ duced Teleonernia sClUpulosa Stal Summary pathogens. The aim of biological control is (Tingidae) from Fiji. This sap-sucking bug All of the 23 species of insects introduced to import some of these natural enemies to had been introduced into Fiji in 1928 from into Australia since 1914 for biological con­ provide a self·sustaining reduction in the tar­ Hawaii having originated from Mexico in trol of lantana are reviewed. Fineen species get weed plant's growth and spread. In 1902 (Fyfe 1937). have become established but only four are southern Brazil, where lantana is native, In Australia T. scrupulosa became estab­ sufficiently populous to exert suppression Winder and Harley (1983) observed that in­ lished and is now regarded as an important on lantana in New South Wales. The most sects feeding on the fruits, seeds and vegeta· control agent (Winder and Harley 1983). successful are the leaf-mining beetles Octo­ tive parts of the plant effectively restrict its Disa dvantages are its preference for certain lorna scabript!nnis and Uropialagirardi which growth and dispersal. taxa and dislike of unusually wet or cold are now common over a large part of north­ L. carnam has the distinction of being the conditions (Harley and Kassulke 1971). The eastern New South Wales. The full potential first weed against which biological control damage caused by this bug is somewhat spo­ of these and other later introductions is was attempted. In 1902, the Hawaiian Sugar radic but when it occurs in large numbers still at least 20 years away. Fresh introduc­ Planters' Association commissioned the en­ severe defoliation results. In New South tions of insects adapted to temperate cli­ tomologist Albert Kocbele to collect lant ana Wales "Common Pink-edged Red" lantana mates and shaded habitats are needed. insects from Mexico. As a result, 23 species ha s been severely defoliated in the of lant ana insects were sent to Hawaii. Of Toorooka· Willi Willi area, west of Kempsey. Introduction these a total of eight became established to However, the periods of high population do At least two distinct species of Lantana are the extent that there was a "diminishing ef­ not occur every year and the plants often recorded as naturalized in Australia fect" on the lant ana on some of the islands recover. In this same area the "Common (Swarbrick 1986). These are Lamana cam· (Perkins and Swezey 1924). Further intro­ Pink" taxon is not seriously affected by am L. sensu 1010, and L. mOfllevidell sis ductions have since been made so that lan­ T. scrupulosa even when growing among (Spreng.) Brig., the laller usually called tana has been brought under control over heavily infested "Common Pink·edged Red" "Creeping Lantana" (Henderson 1%9). The mu ch of its range in Hawaii (Harley 1973). lant ana. importation of insects to cont rol lantana has The Hawaii experience prompted the first been primarily aimed at the L. cmnam com­ introductions of lantana insects into Austra­ Post 1956: a new beginning plex. li a. These importations began in 1914 and In 1953 an expedit ion to Central and South Twenty nine taxa of L. camam arc listed continued, with some long inactive periods, America led to further introductions of Ian· (Smith and Smith 1982) as naturalized in up to 198 1. It was not until 1956 th at New tana insects into Australia. This expedition eastern Australia. Of these, nineteen are suf­ South Wales took an active part in the rear· was carried out by Mr. N Krauss of the Ha· ficiently common to be of economic impor­ ing and distribution of lantana insects. waiian Territorial Board of Agriculture and tance either as weeds or poisonous plants. Forestery, and Mr. J. Mann of the Queens­ Eight taxa have been recognized as natural­ Introductions pre 1936 land Department of Lands. As a result of ized in New South Wales. Of these the The first introductions of lantana insects these investigations selected lant ana insects "Common Pink" taxon is the major weed. It into Australia were 1914 to 1917 when th e were sent to Hawaii for propagation and ranges from Ulladulla northwards int o Queensland Department of Agriculture and host preference test ing (Krauss 1962). Sub­ Queensland and west to the Great Dividing Stock imported four species from Hawaii. sequently about half of the species evaluated Range. The other problem lantana in New These were a moth species Epinolia lantana were brought from Hawaii to Australia. South Wales is "Common Pink-edged Red" (Busek) (Tortricidae), a butterfly Slrymoll Up to this time New South Wales had not which occurs mainly in the north but can be bruochii (Godart) (Lycaenidae), and two ny actively participated in the biological control locally abundant as far south as Kurrajong, species Eutreta xamhochaeta Aldrich of lantana. All quarantine assessment and west of Sydney. "Common Pink-edged (Trypetidae) and Ophiomyia lanlanae (Frog­ rearing work in Australia had been carried Red", being poisonous, is a maj or problem gall) (Agromyzidae). E. JWJllhocha<la is a out near Brisbane. In 1958, however, the , on cattle properties in the Kempsey District. ga ll former and the others specifically feed Forestry Commission of New South Wales "Common Pink", though not poisonous, is on the flowers and fruit. began to take an active role in the mass rear· much more widespread and adaptable caus­ The most Significant of these first intro­ ing and release of lantana insects because of ing problems in forest, agricult'ure, parks and ductions is 0. lamanae. This small agro­ the problems caused by lantana in State For· suburban areas. myL.id fly is now widespread in New South ests, notably the annu al expense of keeping L. camara, a native of tropical and sub. Wales where it infests a large proportion or fire trails clear. It was estimated that in 1961, tropical America, was introduced into Aus.­ the lantana rruit. In the Sydney area it has 138,000 ha of State Forests and about tralia in the earty t9th century, probably as been observed that the adult fli es are most 300,000 ha of agricultural land were infested garden ornamental cultivars, from a number abundant during February and March. Infes.­ with lantana. of sources. Swarbrick (1986) indicates that tation, while not harmful to the plants them­ L. camara was recognized as a troublesome selves, renders the berries unpalatable to Queens/and Depanment of Lands Intro­ weed in Queensland and New South Wales birds (Perkins and Swezey t924) so that seed ductions before 1890 and by 1919 had been declared a dispersal to uninrested areas is reduced. E. Three moth leaf eaters were brought into noxious weed in 18 municipalities and 22 lanlalla is also established (Common 1957) Australia in 1956. These were Nt!oga~t!a shires. but this insect is of minor importance. The <sula (Druce), Diastema ligris (Guen.) (No,," Exotic weed plants usually arrive without other two species failed to become estab­ tuidae), and Salbia lIaemomloidalis (Guen.) their natural herbivores and other pests and lished (Wilson 1960). (Pyralidae). 62 Plant Protection Quarterly VOI.4(2) 1989 Upon release from quarantine (at Sher­ Most of these were from Queensland De­ wood in Old.) of N. esula and S. haemor­ partment of Lands field collections around rlloida/is the Forestry Commission of New Brisbane. It soon became obvious that they South Wales obtained a breeding stock and were more climatically suited to northern the mass rearing of these two species began New South Wales and Queensland where in New South Wales. Despite problems with they are now established major pests of lan­ disease, sufficient numbers were released in tana (Winder and Harley 1983). 1958-1960 to ensure that both species be­ During the period 1970 - 1972 four expedi­ came widely established in New South tions were made to the Brisbane area where Armldata Wales. However. they failed to develop Forestry Commission staff collected a total • dense populations, being seriously checked of 137,000 beetles. The percentage of each by native parasites and predators (Willson species was 44 % 0. scabn"pennis and 56% 1968. 1979b). Consequently. the damage in­ U. girorrli. flicted on lantana by these two species is not After 1973 these field collections were significant. The third species, D. tigris, was made by the Queensland Department of nevcrreared in New South Wales because of Lands. Between then and 1984, 11 annual the difficulty of establishing a breeding collections were made totaning 771,000 / stock. beetles. Both species occur togelher in the I In 1965 an African strain of HypeflQ Sln­ Brisbane area and for this reason were al­ { I gala (F.) (Noctuidae). a leaf-feeding moth. ways collected together. Altogether almosl Kurr ..... was brought in via Hawaii by the Queens­ one million beetles of these two species have . \ land Department of Lands. Subsequently been released in New South Wales and they \ this species was found to be already present are now widely established in nonh eastern in Australia (Julien 1982). The African strain New South Wales and in discrete areas as far was reared for one year and widely released south as Sydney.