The effects of natural enemies on the growth of Lantana in Brazil

Abstract

Observations were made over a two-year period on the growth and natural enemies of Lantana tiliaefolia and L. glutinosa growing naturally at nine sites covering different climatic areas of Parana State, south Brazil. Lantana was found to be subjected to continuous attack by insects and/or fungi throughout the year, with different species causing damage at different times. Temperate-climate sites had a more diverse complex of insects and a greater intensity of attack than warmer-climate sites. Shrubs in sites which suffered severe insect attack, especially during the previous season, flowered and fruited significantly less than those which had suffered only light attack. Differential weighting of the principal phytophagous insects demonstrated that feeding by insects of some groups may be more damaging than that by others. The relevance of the results to the search for biological agents for control of lantana in Australia is discussed.

The trimorphic flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema, not suitable for biocontrol of Lantana camara in Africa

“…In her review and evaluation of L. camara biocontrol programmes, Broughton (2000) found leaf-, flower-, and fruit-feeding insects to be the most successful biocontrol agents. But this author also suggested that new defoliating species should not be considered, because artificial defoliation experiments by Winder (1980) and Broughton (1999), showed that lantana was able to survive continual defoliation for at least 1 to 2 consecutive years. Winder and van Emden (1980) found that attack by insects reduces plant growth more than an equivalent amount of artificial clipping.…”

The potential impact of the trimorphic flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema, on a selected weedy variety of Lantana camara

“…Artificial defoliation experiments by Winder (1980) and Broughton (1999) demonstrated that when 100% of leaves were removed from a lantana plant every month over a 1-to 2-year period, the plant recovered. Insect feeding is more damaging than artificial removal of leaves (Broughton, 2000), but these experiments suggested that lantana is capable of compensating for insect defoliation (Winder, 1980;Winder and Van Emden, 1980;Broughton, 1999Broughton, , 2000.…”

“…Insect feeding is more damaging than artificial removal of leaves (Broughton, 2000), but these experiments suggested that lantana is capable of compensating for insect defoliation (Winder, 1980;Winder and Van Emden, 1980;Broughton, 1999Broughton, , 2000. None of the defoliating insects established on L. camara in South Africa, inflict damage throughout the year because of declining populations in autumn (Teleonemia scrupulosa Sta˚l) and winter (Uroplata girardi Pic and Octotoma scabripennis Gue`rin-Me`neville), creating a ''lag period'' in spring, when lantana plants recover from the previous season's damage (Harley et al, 1979;Cilliers, 1982Cilliers, , 1987Broughton, 1999).…”

“…These authors also found that mean defoliation levels varied between 7 and 26%, while defoliation of up to 47% caused by larvae was observed on individual plants. Winder and Harley (1982) also reported on the impact of alticine species, stating that extensive attack by larvae of a species of Oedionychis nr. arcifer (Harold) (later identified as Alagoasa parana sp.…”

Impacts of climate change on invasive Lantana camara L. distribution in South Africa

“…Inclusion of native and alien distribution data in model parameterization ensured that the complete range of environmental conditions in which lantana may occur was covered. Seasonal phenology data from the southern states of Brazil (Winder, 1980(Winder, , 1982 was used to fit growth parameters. Australia has extensive distribution data on lantana and this was reserved for model validation and thus not used in parameter fitting.…”