Assessment of the suitablity of Plagihammus spinipennis (Thoms.) (Col., Cerambycidae) as an agent for control of weeds of the genus Lantana (Verbenaceae). I. Life-history and capacity to damage L. camara in Hawaii

Plagiohammus spinipennis (Thorns.), a native of areas of Central and South America where rainfall exceeds 50 in. per annum, has been imported into Hawaii and Australia for the control of Lantana camara. The larvae girdle a stem of the host-plant and then tunnel extensively in the xylem tissues. In Hawaii multiple infestation of stems over 0-5 in. in thickness was found to be usual. Most attacks were within 25 in. of the ground and stems were killed or so severely weakened that they readily broke off, reducing tall plants to mutilated stumps eventually bearing small regrowth shoots. The life-cycle normally lasts one year.An annual rainfall of at least 50 in. appears to be necessary for the development of large populations, and the amount that falls before and during the oviposition period influences larval survival. It is concluded that the insect should be very useful as a biological control agent for L. camara.

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OBSERVATIONS ON THE FIRST SCOLYTID, POECILIPS PTERIDOPHYTAE (COLEOPTERA: SCOLYTIDAE), TO BE FOUND IN ASSOCIATION WITH A FERN (PTERIDOPHYTA)

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/ent102578-5 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 102 (5) ◽

pp. 578-585 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

B. Gray

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Life History ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

New Guinea ◽

Control Agent ◽

Evolutionary Origin ◽

Immature Stages ◽

Economic Potential ◽

Bracken Fern

AbstractPoecilips pteridophytae Schedl is the first species of Scolytidae to be found on a fern. It appears to be fairly widely distributed in New Guinea on the tropical bracken fern, Pteridium aquilnum (L.). The association is most probably of recent evolutionary origin. The immature stages are described in the text. Its life history is relatively short, the life cycle raking 2 to 4 mouths, and takes place wholly width the stem of the fern, except for emigrating adults. P. pteridophytae may have considerable economic potential as a biological control agent of bracken fern in countries where it is a pest.

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Studies on Theocolax formiciformis Westw. (Hym., Pteromalidae), a parasite of Anobium punctatum (Deg.) (Col., Anobiidae)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s000748530004918x ◽

1964 ◽

Vol 54 (4) ◽

pp. 797-803 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jean M. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Wood Surface ◽

Biological Control Agent ◽

Glass Plate ◽

Control Agent ◽

Large Numbers ◽

Cent Relative Humidity ◽

Anobium Punctatum

A description is given of the life-cycle in Britain of Theocolax formiciformis Westw. (Pteromalidae), a parasite of Anobium punctatum (Deg.) (Anobiidae). Adults emerge from infested wood in large numbers from April to June. Eggs are laid through the wood surface and use was made of this habit as a means of rearing this parasite under observation in the laboratory. Anobium larvae were placed individually in channels gouged in the surface of 3-inch squares of plywood. They were covered with tracing paper and the parasites were caged on this by means of a glass ring covered with a glass plate. Development from egg to adult at 22 and 25°C., and 75 per cent, relative humidity, averaged about five and six weeks, respectively, compared with 12 weeks outdoors in summer. The number of progeny per female was highest (approximately five) at 22°C., at which the ratio of males to females was 1:3. Only about one per cent, of the adults reared were winged. The use of Theocolax as a biological-control agent is not considered practical.

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