Journal
BIOCONTROL
Volume 54, Issue 3, Pages 475-484Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10526-008-9196-3
Keywords
Insect-plant interactions; Weed biological control; Tortricidae; Anacardiaceae; Schinus terebinthifolius
Categories
Funding
- University of Florida
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council
- Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), introduced from South America, invades a variety of habitats in Florida (e.g. disturbed sites, coastal mangrove forests). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of host-plant quality on the performance of Episimus unguiculus Clarke (=E. utilis Zimmerman) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), a potential biocontrol agent of Brazilian peppertree. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory using Brazilian peppertrees exposed either to different salinity levels (0, 6, 12 parts per thousand), or to different nutrient levels (low, medium, high). Higher survival (55%) and faster development (32 day) to adulthood was observed on plants grown in fresh-water environments (0 ppt) compared to low (6 ppt) or high-salinity environments (12 ppt). In addition, higher survival (40%), faster development (34 day) and higher fertility (88% eggs hatched) occurred in high-nutrient treatments. Based on these results, field releases should be conducted in favorable habitats (e.g., low salinity, high fertility soils) to maximize the possibility of establishment and population growth of E. unguiculus in Florida.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available