Malacorhinus irregularis for biological control of Mimosa pigra: host-specificity, life cycle, and establishment in Australia

Heard, Tim A.; Paynter, Quentin; Chan, R. R.; Mira, Arelí

doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2004.10.003

Cited by 14 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…However, the data collection often stops with identifying host selection decisions made by the insect, and any effects on the plant are usually described qualitatively (e.g. Day et al 1999;Dhileepan et al 2005;Heard et al 2005;Scott & Yeoh 2005). With a little more effort, it is possible to adapt such host-testing studies to gather quantitative data on level of herbivory an agent is able to inflict and the subsequent impacts on the plant in terms of regrowth potential, and in certain circumstances reproductive output (S Raghu et al unpubl.…”

Section: Verifying Agent Efficacy (Filter 3)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Refining the process of agent selection through understanding plant demography and plant response to herbivory

Raghu¹,

Wilson

Dhileepan³

2006

Australian Journal of Entomology

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Understanding plant demography and plant response to herbivory is critical to the selection of effective weed biological control agents. We adopt the metaphor of 'filters' to suggest how agent prioritisation may be improved to narrow our choices down to those likely to be most effective in achieving the desired weed management outcome. Models can serve to capture our level of knowledge (or ignorance) about our study system and we illustrate how one type of modelling approach (matrix models) may be useful in identifying the weak link in a plant life cycle by using a hypothetical and an actual weed example (Parkinsonia aculeata). Once the vulnerable stage has been identified we propose that studying plant response to herbivory (simulated and/or actual) can help identify the guilds of herbivores to which a plant is most likely to succumb. Taking only potentially effective agents through the filter of host specificity may improve the chances of releasing safe and effective agents. The methods we outline may not always lead us definitively to the successful agent(s), but such an empirical, datadriven approach will make the basis for agent selection explicit and serve as testable hypotheses once agents are released.

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Section: Verifying Agent Efficacy (Filter 3)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Refining the process of agent selection through understanding plant demography and plant response to herbivory

Raghu¹,

Wilson

Dhileepan³

2006

Australian Journal of Entomology

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“…From the total assimilated energy, a fraction is lost through oxidative processes and metabolism maintenance and another portion is used for growth, reproduction, and cell regeneration (Busato et al 2002). Moreover, the quality of consumed food could influence larval growth and also interrupt the larva's life cycle (Felipe and Zucoloto, 1993;Busato et al, 2002;Ferreira et al, 2002;Heard et al, 2005), and also affects growth rate and weight, and consequently the moth's growth (Scriber and Slansky-Jr., 1981). The ecology and behaviour of insects could be strongly influenced by nutritional factors (Santos et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using energy budget data to assess the most damaging life-stage of an agricultural pest Mocis latipes (Guenèe, 1982) (Lepidoptera - Noctuidae)

2010

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There is much evidence to support that Mocis latipes larvae (Guenèe, 1852) are the most dangerous pasture pest and usually cause large environmental losses. However, no studies have been carried out to identify the instars during which this moth causes the most damage to the environment. Here we calculate M. latipes larval energy budget to assess its consumption across all instars and estimate the consumption/amount of plant biomass required to complete its larval development. Assimilation, respiration, consumption, excretion, gross growth efficiency and net growth efficiency were calculated. Pearson correlations were used to identify the best predictors that influenced larval growth and weight. Across all instars consumption increased exponentially, especially during the last phase. M. latipes larvae consumed ca 13.8% of total food from the first to the fifth instar, whereas during the sixth instars these larvae consumed ca 72.6%. Results also show that the best gross growth and net growth efficiency were obtained when larvae reached the fifth instar. The results also show that one larva of Mocis latipes consumes 1.02 g (dry weight) of Paspalum maritimum (Trin) in 19 days. Overall, our results indentified the sixth instar as the most destructive instar of this insect. Thus, once we know the most destructive instars of this pest, measures can be taken to disable M. latipes larval development and consequently stop their increase in plant consumption, reducing ecological and economic damage. This knowledge may eventually lead to reduced agricultural damage and contribute to sustainable farming strategies.Keywords: moths, energy balance, pasture plagues, Noctuidae. Utilizando o balanço energético de

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“…As adults are nocturnal leaf feeders (Heard et al 2005), a separate night survey of Malacorhinus irregularis was conducted in 2005 at sites where >800 adults had been released. Two to three people searched for Malacorhinus irregularis adults on mimosa stems, branches, leaves, aerial roots and seedlings for 15 min.…”

Section: Malacorhinus Irregularismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The beetle initially persisted at one site on the Adelaide River (Heard et al 2005) in numbers high enough to allow them to be collected for redistribution (M. Paskins personal communication 2004). Adults were consistently found in litter trays at this site in 2002 and 2003 (Heard et al 2005). It should be noted, however, that 1252 beetles were released at this site over six separate releases between October 2002 and October 2003.…”

Section: Malacorhinus Irregularismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Beetles are likely to move during the year, making it difficult to find them consistently. As water levels in the floodplains fall after the wet season, seeds germinate behind the retreating water, so Malacorhinus irregularis would be expected to be concentrated on this band of seedlings as its larvae feed on seedlings and imbibed seed (Heard et al 2005). Malacorhinus irregularis is also uncommon in its native range; only a total of 71 adults were collected from Mexico between 1998 and 2001.…”

Section: Malacorhinus Irregularismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Establishment, distribution and abundance of Mimosa pigra biological control agents in northern Australia: implications for biological control

Ostermeyer¹,

Grace²

2007

BioControl

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Mimosa pigra L. is one of the most troublesome weeds in northern Australia, and is the target of a large biological control program, with 14 agents released to date. This paper describes surveys conducted between 1997 and 2004, for eight of these biological control agents. Surveys assessed the establishment of key agents. Both distribution and abundance of the most damaging agent, the stem-borer Carmenta mimosa Eichlin and Passoa (Lep.: Sesiidae), increased during the eight year period and the moth is now present in all catchments with major M. pigra infestations. The tip-borer, Neurostrota gunniella Busck (Lep.: Gracillariidae) is present in all M. pigra infestations, attacking 94% of tips. The leaf and flower-feeder, Coelocephalapion pigrae Kissinger (Col., Curculionidae) is widespread and its abundance is stable. Neither Acanthoscelides puniceus Johnson (Col., Bruchidae) nor Chlamisus mimosae Karren (Col., Chrysomelidae) were widespread or abundant when surveys commenced and populations declined during the survey period. The nocturnal beetle Malacorhinus irregularis Jacoby (Col., Chrysomelidae) was not found during these surveys, but later searches using different methods found it at three sites. Six other agents appeared not to have established, or are present at densities too low to be detected. How the results of these surveys affect management of M. pigra, and projections for future impacts against this weed are discussed. Using survey results and published literature we concluded that (1) seed and flower feeders

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Malacorhinus irregularis for biological control of Mimosa pigra: host-specificity, life cycle, and establishment in Australia

Cited by 14 publications

References 11 publications

Refining the process of agent selection through understanding plant demography and plant response to herbivory

Refining the process of agent selection through understanding plant demography and plant response to herbivory

Using energy budget data to assess the most damaging life-stage of an agricultural pest Mocis latipes (Guenèe, 1982) (Lepidoptera - Noctuidae)

Establishment, distribution and abundance of Mimosa pigra biological control agents in northern Australia: implications for biological control

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