The pathogenicity of an Australian isolate of Acremonium zonatum to water hyacinth, and its relationship with the biological control agent, Neochetina eichhorniae

1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
JC Galbraith
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
Australian Isolate ◽  
Free Moisture ◽  
Neochetina Eichhorniae ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
The Individual

The first description of Acremonium zonatum on water hyacinth in Australia is made. Its pathogenicity was studied as part of the search for a microorganism already present in Australia which could be developed as a mychoherbicide to supplement the arthropod biological control programme in this country. Following inoculation with A. zonatum, extensive leaf infections developed, favoured by injury and free moisture, but new leaves continued to form. Feeding by the weevil, Neochetina eichhorniae, increased infection by A. zonatum in relatively dry conditions, but it is unlikely that this was due to feeding scars acting as ports of entry. A. zonatum spores were transported on the feet and in the digestive tract of the weevil. The growth of infected plants, estimated by standing crop, was reduced by 49% compared to the control. A further decrease occurred in infected plants infested by weevils, but the total reduction in growth was not equal to the sum of the individual effects of fungus and weevil. Infection did not develop in 15 other plant species inoculated with the Australian isolate of A. zonatum. Although not a virulent pathogen, A. zonatum has some favourable characteristics for consideration as a mycoherbicide and has not appeared antagonistic to N. eichhorniae in these studies. Its role probably lies in exerting a chronic stress on plants already under attack by arthropod biological control agents.

scholarly journals Chevroned Water Hyacinth weevil Neochetina bruchi Hustache (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

EDIS ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (2) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Eutychus Kariuki ◽  
Carey Minteer
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Biological Control ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
The United States ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Aquatic Plant ◽  
Neochetina Eichhorniae

Neochetina bruchi Hustache is commonly referred to as the chevroned water hyacinth weevil and is a weed biological control agent used to manage water hyacinth, Pontederia crassipes Mart. [formely Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Pellegrini et al. 2018)], in more than 30 countries (Winston et al. 2014). Imported from Argentina, the insect was first introduced into the United States in Florida in 1974 and released in Louisiana later in 1974 (Manning 1979), Texas 1980, and California 1982 to 1983 (Winston et al. 2014). Now Neochetina bruchi occurs throughout the Gulf Coast States (Winston et al. 2014). The target weed of Neochetina bruchi, water hyacinth, is an invasive aquatic plant in the United States and is included on Florida’s list of prohibited aquatic plants. Neochetina bruchi is among four species of insect biological control agents that have been introduced into the United States to manage water hyacinth. The other three species include a weevil, Neochetina eichhorniae; a moth, Niphograptaalbiguttalis; and a planthopper, Megamelus scutellaris, which were introduced into the United States in 1972, 1977, and 2010, respectively (Tipping et al. 2014). Although the larvae and pupae of Neochetina bruchi and Neochetina eichhorniae have similar appearance and behavior and can be difficult to differentiate by casual observation (Deloach and Cordo 1976), the adult stages of the two species of water hyacinth weevils can be distinguished relatively easily based on the color patterns on their elytra (hardened fore wings).

Effects of salinity and nutrients on water hyacinth and its biological control agent, Neochetina bruchi

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 847 (15) ◽  
pp. 3213-3224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Bick ◽  
Elvira S. de Lange ◽  
Cindy R. Kron ◽  
Lorena da Silva Soler ◽  
Jessie Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent

Population regulation of a classical biological control agent larval density dependence inNeochetina eichhorniaeColeoptera Curculionidae, a biological control agent of water hyacinthEichhornia crassipes

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.R.U. Wilson ◽  
M. Rees ◽  
O. Ajuonu
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Density Dependence ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations

AbstractThe release of classical biological control agents has reduced the economic, environmental and social problems caused by water hyacinth,Eichhornia crassipes; however, additional control measures are needed in some locations. Water hyacinth plants were treated with different densities of eggs of the weevilNeochetina eichhorniaeWarner, one of the main control agents, under different nutrient regimes in a controlled experiment. Plants were destructively sampled and the development ofN. eichhorniaewas assessed. The survival of first and second instars declined as larval density increased. Plant nutrient status did not directly affect the mortality rate of larvae, but at higher nutrient concentrations larvae developed faster and were larger at a given developmental stage. It is argued that the density dependence operating inN. eichhorniaeoccurs through an interaction between young larvae and leaf longevity. Consequently, events which disrupt water hyacinth leaf dynamics, e.g. frost or foliar herbicides, will have a disproportionately large effect on the control agents and may reduce the level of control of the host.

Biology and host specificity of the Chondrilla gall mite Aceria chondrillae (G. Can.) (Acarina, Eriophyidae)

1974 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Caresche ◽  
A. J. Wapshere
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Mediterranean Region ◽  
Marked Effect ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
Flower Buds ◽  
Full Life Cycle ◽  
East Russia ◽  
Gall Mite

AbstractThe Eriophyid gall mite, Aceria chondrillae (G. Can.), which is distributed from south-east Russia to Portugal, was studied in the Mediterranean region as part of a biological control programme against skeleton weed (Chondrilla juncea) for Australia. The mite induces the vegetative and flower buds of Chondrilla to form leafy galls in which the full life-cycle is completed, causing stunting of the plant and reducing seeding. The mite overwinters in the rosettes of C. juncea without inducing gall development or reproducing. Populations decrease markedly during winter, recover in spring and infestations spread rapidly during summer. Reproduction is sexual and spermatophores are deposited by the males. Amblyseius sp. preys on A. chondrillae without marked effect. Tests made by placing fully developed galls of A. chondrillae on 75 species of plant including certain Cichoriaceae closely related to Chondrilla showed that the mite was highly specific to Chondrilla. Comparative tests with four geographical strains of A. chondrillae against six forms of C. juncea of various geographical origins indicated that the strains were specialised to their usual host form of the plant. A Greek strain of the mite readily attacked the main Australian form of C. juncea, and this strain has been introduced into Australia as a biological control agent for the weed.

scholarly journals Correction to: Effects of salinity and nutrients on water hyacinth and its biological control agent, Neochetina bruchi

Hydrobiologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 847 (15) ◽  
pp. 3225-3225
Author(s):  
Emily Bick ◽  
Elvira S. de Lange ◽  
Cindy R. Kron ◽  
Lorena da Silva Soler ◽  
Jessie Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Water Hyacinth ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent

The biology and host specificity of Pareuchaetes aurata aurata (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), a ‘new association’ biological control agent for Chromolaena odorata (Compositae)

1993 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-93 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L. Kluge ◽  
P.M. Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Control Programme ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Ant Predation ◽  
Plant Feeding ◽  
Pareuchaetes Pseudoinsulata ◽  
New Association

AbstractPareuchaetes aurata aurata (Butler) from Chromolaena jujuensis in northern Argentina was tested as a biological control candidate for the composite weed C. odorata. The larvae feed voraciously and complete their development on C. odorata. The host-plant feeding range of P. a. aurata is limited to the genus Chromolaena. It is suggested that the egg-laying behaviour of P. a. aurata, which scatters its eggs around the base of the host-plant, will help to overcome the problem of ant predation which prevented the establishment of Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros, which lays its eggs in batches, in South Africa. Any possible benefits of the new association between P. a. aurata and C. odorata may also contribute to the success of this biological control programme.

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