Title

Host Range Tests Reveal Paectes Longiformis Is Not A Suitable Biological Control Agent For The Invasive Plant Schinus Terebinthifolia

Keywords

Anacardiaceae; biological control; Euteliidae; Non-target effects; Risk assessment

Abstract

The most critical step during a weed biological control program is determination of a candidate agent’s host range. Despite rigorous protocols and extensive testing, there are still concerns over potential non-target effects following field releases. With the objective to improve risk assessment in biological control, no-choice and choice testing followed by a multiple generation study were conducted on the leaf-defoliator, Paectes longiformis Pogue (Lepidoptera: Euteliidae). This moth is being investigated as a biological control agent of Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), which is one of the worst invasive plant species in Florida, USA. Results from no-choice testing showed higher larval survival on S. terebinthifolia (48 %) and its close relative Schinus molle L. (47 %), whereas lower survival was obtained on six non-target species (<25 %). When given a choice, P. longiformis females preferred to lay eggs on the target weed, but oviposition also occurred on four non-target species. An improved performance on the native Rhus aromatica Aiton was found when insects were reared exclusively on this non-target species for one or two generations. Results from host range testing suggest that this moth is oligophagous, but has a preference for the target weed. Non-target effects found during multiple generation studies indicate that P. longiformis should not be considered as a biological control agent of S. terebinthifolia.

Publication Date

12-1-2014

Publication Title

BioControl

Volume

59

Issue

6

Number of Pages

761-770

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-014-9591-x

Socpus ID

84939877110 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84939877110

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