Insect herbivores associated with the introduced weed Bidens frondosa L. (Asteraceae) in Korea, and their potential role as augmentative biological control agents

Abstract

The annual herb Bidens frondosa L., native to North America, is an invasive weed. Currently no information is available on the insect herbivores associated with this weed in Korea. A survey was carried out at two‐weekly intervals from May to October 2008 at two sites, and the incidence and abundance of various insect herbivores studied. A total nine species of insects was recorded and among them the defoliating caterpillar Hadjina chinensis (Wallengren) (Lepidoptera) was the only species known to have host plants restricted to genus Bidens. Further host specificity studies are required to evaluate the potential of this insect as a candidate for augmentative biological control agent for B. frondosa in Korea. All other insect species are either polyphagous or known crop pests.

Reproductive biological characteristics potentially contributed to invasiveness in an alien invasive plant Bidens frondosa

“…) and few natural enemies (Han et al . ) would also enhance its ability to adapt or compete, and thus improve its ability to invade.…”

“…Nine herbivorous insects of B. frondosa were recorded in Korea but the defoliating caterpillar Hadjina chinensis (Lepidoptera) was the only species restrictively host to genus Bidens (Han et al . ). After an active natural hybridization, the populations of B. frondosa and its native Bidens species in North American underwent significant changes during its invasion into the biota, resulting in the vanishing or reduction of its native congeneric species and the formation of a new form of B. frondosa (Vasilyeva & Papchenkov ).…”

“…The deeper dormancy and slower germination of central achenes, which are morphologically betteradapted for dispersal by animals, may reduce the risk of germination in new, unfavourable habitats, and the lesser dormancy and faster germination of peripheral achenes, with lower dispersal capability, keep them near the mother plant for replacement in the following spring (Brändel 2004). Nine herbivorous insects of B. frondosa were recorded in Korea but the defoliating caterpillar Hadjina chinensis (Lepidoptera) was the only species restrictively host to genus Bidens (Han et al 2009). After an active natural hybridization, the populations of B. frondosa and its native Bidens species in North American underwent significant changes during its invasion into the biota, resulting in the vanishing or reduction of its native congeneric species and the formation of a new form of B. frondosa (Vasilyeva & Papchenkov 2011).…”

“…In summary, our experimental findings suggest that the reproductive traits, such as the versatile mating system of self-and cross-pollination, high seed production, a special method of achene dispersal and germination peak, accompanied by a high accumulated germination rate, might contribute to the invasive ability of B. frondosa. Meanwhile, allelopathic inhibition (Yan et al 2012) and few natural enemies (Han et al 2009) would also enhance its ability to adapt or compete, and thus improve its ability to invade.…”

Modelling rice competition with Leptochloa fusca, Bidens frondosa and Ammannia coccinea in transplanted rice cultivation

“…Bidens frondosa (L.), beggartick native to North America, is an invasive weed occurring in rice fields, moors, near cities, stream shores, field edges and roadsides. It is also being controlled as a troublesome alien weed in Korea as its range has expanded widely in all agricultural lands in all regions (Han et al, 2009; Kim et al, 2018). B. frondosa has an unusual pattern of invasion in rice fields.…”