Three New Biological Control Programmes for South Africa: Brazilian Pepper, Tamarix and Tradescantia

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Byrne ◽  
S. Mayonde ◽  
N. Venter ◽  
F. Chidawanyika ◽  
C. Zachariades ◽  
...  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Thomas ◽  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval ◽  
Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez

Abstract L. camara is a highly variable ornamental shrub, native of the neotropics. It has been introduced to most of the tropics and subtropics as a hedge plant and has since been reported as extremely weedy and invasive in many countries. It is generally deleterious to biodiversity and has been reported as an agricultural weed resulting in large economic losses in a number of countries. In addition to this, it increases the risk of fire, is poisonous to livestock and is a host for numerous pests and diseases. L. camara is difficult to control. In Australia, India and South Africa aggressive measures to eradicate L. camara over the last two centuries have been largely unsuccessful, and the invasion trajectory has continued upwards despite control measures. This species has been the target of biological control programmes for over a century, with successful control only being reported in a few instances.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Pasiecznik ◽  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval

Abstract Opuntia stricta is a cactus species native to the Americas that has been introduced worldwide as a popular ornamental. This species escaped from cultivation and has become invasive in many countries across Africa and Australia, but also more recently in the Mediterranean basin. Large and serious invasions have been reported in Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Yemen, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and lately also Spain and some North African countries. It has also become naturalized in many other regions (primarily in Africa and Asia) where it has not yet been recorded as a pest. In South Africa and Namibia large infestations have been reported, mainly in dry savanna bushlands, while in Australia all states are invaded with widespread populations invading southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. Successful biological control programmes have, however, severely reduced the spread of this species in many areas where introduced, though there continues to be a risk of further introduction through the nursery trade.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nick Pasiecznik ◽  
Julissa Rojas-Sandoval

Abstract Opuntia stricta is a cactus species native to the Americas that has been introduced worldwide as a popular ornamental. This species escaped from cultivation and has become invasive in many countries across Africa and Australia, but also more recently in the Mediterranean basin. Large and serious invasions have been reported in Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Yemen, India, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and lately also Spain and some North African countries. It has also become naturalized in many other regions (primarily in Africa and Asia) where it has not yet been recorded as a pest. In South Africa and Namibia large infestations have been reported, mainly in dry savanna bushlands, while in Australia all states are invaded with widespread populations invading southeastern Queensland and northeastern New South Wales. Successful biological control programmes have, however, severely reduced the spread of this species in many areas where introduced, though there continues to be a risk of further introduction through the nursery trade.


EDIS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
James P. Cuda ◽  
Patricia Prade ◽  
Carey R. Minteer-Killian

In the late 1970s, Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), was targeted for classical biological control in Florida because its invasive properties (see Host Plants) are consistent with escape from natural enemies (Williams 1954), and there are no native Schinus spp. in North America. The lack of native close relatives should minimize the risk of damage to non-target plants from introduced biological control agents (Pemberton 2000). [...]


Author(s):  
Patricia Daniela da Silva Pires ◽  
Josué Sant’ Ana ◽  
Luiza Rodrigues Redaelli

Abstract Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a major barrier to fruit production and exportation. In Brazil, the native parasitoid Aganaspis pelleranoi (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) and the exotic parasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) stand out as biological control agents. Knowledge of the factors that affect interactions among parasitoids, A. fraterculus, and host fruits may enhance the use of these agents in biological control programmes. This study evaluated the chemotaxis and parasitism of A. pelleranoi and D. longicaudata females reared on A. fraterculus larvae and kept on an artificial diet, red guava (Psidium guajava) or apple (Malus domestica). Females of both parasitoid species that emerged from larvae raised on artificial diet, guava or apple, were tested to Y olfactometer choice tests. In the parasitism tests, both parasitoid species were made to choose between A. fraterculus larvae brushed with water, apple pulp or guava pulp. D. longicaudata females from artificial diet (control) did not distinguish between fruit odours; however, females of D. longicaudata from larvae kept in apple or guava directed to the odours of their original fruit. The greatest parasitism for D. longicaudata occurred in the units that contained the pulp in which the larvae grew. A. pelleranoi from artificial diet preferred guava odours, including the females kept in apple. Similar results were observed in the parasitism bioassays. Our results found that A. fraterculus larval feeding influenced search behaviour and parasitism of D. longicaudata, whereas A. pelleranoi rearing experience did not affect its host choices.


Author(s):  
Léna Durocher-Granger ◽  
Tibonge Mfune ◽  
Monde Musesha ◽  
Alyssa Lowry ◽  
Kathryn Reynolds ◽  
...  

AbstractInvasive alien species have environmental, economic and social impacts, disproportionally threatening livelihood and food security of smallholder farmers in low- and medium-income countries. Fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda), an invasive insect pest from the Americas, causes considerable losses on maize to smallholder farmers in Africa since 2016. The increased use of pesticides to control FAW in Africa raises concerns for health and environmental risks resulting in a growing interest in research on biological control options for smallholder farmers. In order to evaluate the occurrence of local natural enemies attacking FAW, we collected on a weekly basis FAW eggs and larvae during a maize crop cycle in the rainy season of 2018–2019 at four locations in the Lusaka and Central provinces in Zambia. A total of 4373 larvae and 162 egg masses were collected. For each location and date of collection, crop stage, the number of plants checked and amount of damage were recorded to analyse which factors best explain the occurrence of the natural enemy species on maize. Overall parasitism rates from local natural enemies at each location varied between 8.45% and 33.11%. We identified 12 different egg-larval, larval and larval-pupal parasitoid species. Location, maize growth stage, pest density and larval stage significantly affected parasitoid species occurrence. Our findings indicate that there is potential for increasing local populations of natural enemies of FAW through conservation biological control programmes and develop safe and practical control methods for smallholder farmers.


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