An Exploratory Insect Survey of Tropical Soda Apple in Brazil and Paraguay

Abstract

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Biological Control of Tropical Soda Apple (Solanaceae) in Florida: Post-Release Evaluation

“…Sixteen species of insects were found associated with tropical soda apple in Brazil and Paraguay (Medal et al 1996). A biological control program was initiated by the University of Florida in 1997 with funds provided by the United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services.…”

Host Specificity of Anthonomus elutus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a Potential Biological Control Agent of Wetland Nightshade (Solanaceae) in Florida

“…Several leaf-feeding insects were tested, including 3 chrysomelid beetles (Metriona elatior Klug, Gratiana boliviana Spaeth, and Platyphora sp.) that were found feeding on tropical soda apple in South America (Medal et al 1996(Medal et al , 2003(Medal et al , 2007. Quarantine-laboratory screening tests with these insects indicated only minor feeding damage and no larval development on wetland-nightshade (Medal et al , 2002Medal et al unpublished data).…”

Temperature-dependent development, cold tolerance, and potential distribution ofGratiana boliviana(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a biological control agent of tropical soda apple,Solanum viarum(Solanaceae)

“…Due to the importance of TSA as an invasive weed, a search for classical biological control agents was initiated in South America in 1994 (Medal, Charudatan, Mullahey and Pitelli 1996). One agent identified and later introduced from Paraguay and northern Argentina was Gratiana boliviana Spaeth (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).…”