Nine insect species endemic to tropical America have been released into the Northern Territory as biological control agents for Mimosa pigra L. (Mimosaceae). To date, few studies have been published that quantify the abundance of these agents post‐release. Hence, populations of adult agents in three stands of M. pigra were monitored using Malaise traps. Trap catches frequently contained the lepidopteran agents Carmenta mimosa Eichlin and Passoa and Neurostrota gunniella (Busck). Neurostrota gunniella, which was first released in 1989, was the most abundant of all the agents caught, irrespective of the stand of M. pigra where trapping was conducted. The three coleopteran agents (namely Acanthoscelides Schönherr spp., Chlamisus mimosae Karren and Coelocephalapion Wagner spp.) were caught less frequently. Two recently released beetles, Chalcodermus serripes Fåhraeus and Sibinia fastigiata Clark, were not caught. Trap catches of Acanthoscelides spp. were greatest during the late dry season with smaller catches during the mid‐ to late wet season. Chlamisus mimosae was most abundant during the dry to dry–wet transition. Neurostrota gunniella was generally most abundant during the dry season. The abundances of Ca. mimosa and Coelocephalapion spp. exhibited little seasonality. Malaise trapping is recommended as part of a long‐term monitoring program to quantify agent populations and their impact upon M. pigra.
This paper records the microscopic acoel flatworm Wulguru cuspidata from the Northern Territory', in fact from the northern coastline of Australia, for the first time. Whilst being restricted to a narrow belt in the intertidal zone on sandy beaches fronting the ocean, this acoel can attain remarkably high densities. Despite the stressors it must experience in this habitat -of great fluctuations of temperature and salinity', and of toxic algal and bacterial blooms -it is present year round.Its behaviour, which is typical of acoels of the family Convolutidae, of moving to the surface of the substrate at low tide apparently to recharge its 'solar batteries' (i.e. provide light for its symbiotic microalgae) and of burying into the substrate at high tide, is described. Whilst this behaviour appears to be a response to a combination of tidal and daylight cycles, the biological clock causing it must be very complicated.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.