Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree, - UF/IFAS … A...• J.H. Pedrosa-Macedo ... – As...

Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius

James P. Cuda, PhDAssociate Professor

[email protected]

Aquatic Weed Control Short CourseThursday, 6 May 2010

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements•• Robert BarretoRobert Barreto•• Fred BennettFred Bennett•• Lyle BussLyle Buss•• Pat ConantPat Conant•• Kenia DuranKenia Duran--AguirreAguirre•• Bolivar GarceteBolivar Garcete--BarrettBarrett•• Judy GillmoreJudy Gillmore•• Dale HabeckDale Habeck•• Veronica ManriqueVeronica Manrique•• Julio MedalJulio Medal•• Onour MoeriOnour Moeri• Kenyatta Nichols•• Bill OverholtBill Overholt•• Tanya StevensTanya Stevens•• Marcelo VitorinoMarcelo Vitorino•• J.H. PedrosaJ.H. Pedrosa--MacedoMacedo•• Dean WilliamsDean Williams

• FWC (Florida DEP)• SFWMD

(Photo credit: Bryan Harry, NPS)

TD

OutlineOutline•• Introduction Introduction •• Status of Candidate Biological Control Status of Candidate Biological Control

AgentsAgents•• Questions? Comments? Questions? Comments?

Bazillion PeppertreeSchinus howterribleyouvebeenforus

Galveston, Texas

Brazilian Peppertree (BP)•• US DISTRIBUTIONUS DISTRIBUTION---- Arizona, CaliforniaArizona, CaliforniaFlorida, Hawaii,Florida, Hawaii,Texas, Louisiana,Texas, Louisiana,Caribbean IslandsCaribbean Islands

•• ORIGINORIGIN-- Brazil, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay Argentina, Paraguay

•• DESCRIPTIONDESCRIPTION---- Evergreen ShrubEvergreen Shrub-- Compound LeavesCompound Leaves-- Red BerriesRed Berries-- Several Several ‘‘VarietiesVarieties’’-- DioeciousDioecious

M. Clark 2008

Typical Female BP Plant

Native Range of BP

History of BP in Florida• Date of First Introduction Uncertain

– As Early as 1884, More Likely ca. 1900• Popularized as Ornamental by George

Stone, Punta Gorda, ca. 1926• Recognized as Invasive Weed

– During 1950s - 1960s• Currently Estimated to Occupy > 700,000

acres• Distribution in North Florida Appears to be

Limited by Lack of Cold Tolerance?????

“New” Distribution of BP

Wunderlin & Hansen (2008), Wildland Weeds (2007)

BP Supports Other Invasive Species

Diaprepes WeevilDiaprepes Weevilhttp://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus/S_R_B_W_TW4.htmhttp://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus/S_R_B_W_TW4.htm

Redbanded ThripsRedbanded Thripshttp://entnem.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/thrips/redbanded_thripshttp://entnem.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/thrips/redbanded_thrips.htm#desc.htm#desc

BP May Threaten Public Health

Reiskind et al. (2009)http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Animals/mosquitoes/Aedes_albopictus_P9071863.JPG

http://entoplp.okstate.edu/mosquito/images/aealboeggs4.jpg

BP Pollen Causes Problems

Jarzen and Nelson (2008)

Southeastern BrazilSoutheastern Brazil

Growth Habit of BP

Everglades National ParkEverglades National Park

Don Schmitz FWC

Williams et al. (2005, 2007)

West Coast (A)

East Coast (B)

Hybrids (A & B)

Punta GordaPunta Gorda

MiamiMiami

Brazil

Why is BP Invasive in FL?•• Multiple Genotypes & Hybrid VigorMultiple Genotypes & Hybrid Vigor

• Native Specialist Enemies Strongly Control the Abundance and/or Distribution of Native Plants

• Escape from Specialist Enemies is a Key Contributor to Exotic Plant Success

• Enemy Escape Benefits Exotics Because They Gain a Competitive Advantage Over Native Plants as a Result of Being Liberated from Their Pests

Why is BP Invasive in FL ?Enemy Escape Hypothesis Enemy Escape Hypothesis (Williams 1954)(Williams 1954)

BP Targeted for BioControl • Non-native Invasive Species• Causes Severe Ecological Damage • Toxic and Allergenic (Poison Ivy

Family)• Low Beneficial Value (Beekeepers?)• Conventional Controls Temporary,

Costly• No Native Congeners in US !!!

Late 1980s

Fred Bennett

Dale Habeck

•• Extensive Faunal Extensive Faunal Surveys ConductedSurveys Conductedin Brazil by UF/IFASin Brazil by UF/IFAS

•• Collaboration withCollaboration withLocal ScientistsLocal ScientistsEstablishedEstablished

Bennett et al. (1990)Bennett et al. (1990)

• Collect Promising Natural Enemies in SA• Conduct Biological & Impact Studies

with Candidate BioControl Agents• Import BioAgents & Develop Rearing

Procedures• Perform Host Specificity Testing

Required for Release into Florida • Release / Evaluate Performance of

Approved BioControl Agents

BP BioControl Project Objectives

TD

OutlineOutline•• IntroductionIntroduction•• Status of Candidate Biological Control Status of Candidate Biological Control

AgentsAgents•• Questions? Comments?Questions? Comments?

1.1. Thrips Thrips -- Damages ShootsDamages Shoots

2. Sawfly2. Sawfly-- DefoliatorDefoliator

3.3. Seed WaspSeed Wasp-- Attacks FruitsAttacks Fruits

4. Weevil4. Weevil-- Stem FeederStem Feeder

5.5. PsyllidPsyllid-- Galls LeavesGalls Leaves

6. Leafroller6. Leafroller-- DefoliatorDefoliator

7. Fungus7. Fungus-- Leaf SpotLeaf Spot

BP Natural BP Natural EnemiesEnemies

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(Fortuitous) (Fortuitous)

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(Habeck et al. 1989, Cuda al. 2002)

Late 1980s•• Discovery of Adventive Torymid Seed Wasp Discovery of Adventive Torymid Seed Wasp

Megastigmus transvaalensis









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Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood)• Adults- Black, Winged• Females Live ca. 50

days & Deposit 220 Eggs

• Oviposit on New BP Growth

• Four Generations in Brazil (Garcia 1977)

M. Vitorino

Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood)• Larvae- Red or Orange; Feed

on Tender Growth• Damage / Kill New Shoots &

Young Plants• Only Collected on BP in S.

America (Garcia 1977)

• Laboratory & Field Host Range Testing Confirmed Specificity (Cuda et al. 2009)

• Recommended for Field Release by TAG

V. Manrique

No-Choice Larval Development Tests

Cuda et al. 2009Cuda et al. 2009

Two Schinus spp.:- S. terebinthifolius sensu lato- S. molle

18 Fam., 46 Spp.18 Fam., 46 Spp.









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Episimus unguiculus Clarke

Martin et al. (2004)

A

B

C

• 1954- Introduced into Hawaii (Episimus sp.)• 1955,1956 - Additional Releases Made• 1957- Establishment Confirmed• 1978- Occasional Heavy Infestations• 2002- Widely Distributed; Minimal Impact

– Spillover of Parasitoids Released for Agric. Pests Since 1960

“ . . .Out of [all] parasitoids reared from caterpillars collected [in Hawaii], most (83%) were biological control agents introduced against lowland agricultural pests. . . ”Hennemen & Memmott. 2001. Science

Biological Control History of E. unguiculus

Colony ProductionColony Production

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Total No. Adults

YEAR

Males

Females

Total

Survivorship Curve of E. unguiculus

0

200

400

600

800

1000

0 5 9 13 17 21 25 30 34 39 43 48 53 58

Days after oviposition

Surv

ival

(lx)

0

1

2

3

4

5

mx

Mean daily lx valuesMean lx for beginning of each stageMean daily mx

Egg

IIIIII

VIV

Pupa Adult

Martin et al. (2004Martin et al. (2004))

Effect of E. unguiculus on BP

• Larvae Feed Inside Leaflet Rolls During Development

• Capable of Defoliating Entire Plants

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8/01 10/01 12/01 2/02 4/02 6/02 8/02 9/02 11/02 1/03 4/03 5/03 7/03 9/03

m2 (h

t x a

vg. c

anop

y di

amet

er)

controldef Fall 01def Fall 01, Fall 02def Fall 01, Spring 02def Fall 01, Spring 02, Fall 02

Simulated Herbivory StudiesUF/IFAS, IRREC, Ft. Pierce

Treadwell and Cuda (Treadwell and Cuda (20072007))

Life History Parameters on BP Genotypes Life History Parameters on BP Genotypes

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

% survival to adult days development adult longevity (d)

BP-FL ABP-FL BBP-FL HBBP-FL HA

Manrique et al. (2008)Manrique et al. (2008)

MultipleMultiple Choice TestChoice Testa

b b b b b

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

SCTE COCO CODO RHAR RHCO TOVE METO PICH PIVE ANOC EUCA

No. Adults

Plant Species

Brazilian Peppertree

Native Sumacs Poisonwood Pistachio

48 Fam., 90 Spp.48 Fam., 90 Spp.

Predicted Distribution of Predicted Distribution of E. unguiculusE. unguiculusWORLDCLIM Ecological Niche ModelWORLDCLIM Ecological Niche Model

PistachioCrop

Conclusions• Episimus unguiculus is a Precedented

BioControl Agent– Established in Hawaii since 1950s– Field Host Specificity Documented– Impact on BP Compromised by Parasitism?

• Capable of Sustained Reproduction Only on BP– Demonstrated in Lab. & Open-Field Choice

Tests, Lab. Multi-Generation Tests

• Larval Feeding Damage Should Impact BP Growth & Reproduction – Confirmed by Field & Laboratory

Herbivory Studies• Risk to Cultivated Pistachio Acceptable

– Climate in Western US Would Preclude Establishment (= Geographical Incompatibility)

• Petition for Field Release Submitted to TAG in September 2009

Conclusions (cont’d)









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Apocnemidophorus pipitzi (Faust) (Col: Curculionidae)

.

Weevil Exit Holes & Larval Tunnels

Wood (non-living)

Bark (non-living)Cambium (living)

Larval Feeding Tunnels

Larval Feeding Tunnels

BP Weevil Rearing Procedure

3 to 8 cm22 to 26 cm

Donnelly (1997)

0

50

100

150

200

Jul '07 Aug '07 Sep '07 Oct '07 Nov '07 Dec '07 Jan '08 Feb '08 Mar '08 Apr '08

No.

Adu

lts

3- 4 months

Life Cycle of A. pipitzi

Host Range Testing Procedure

Adult Survivorship Curves

0

20

40

60

80

100

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Surv

ival

(%)

Time (Weeks)

SCTESCMORHCOANOCCODORHGLRHSARHIN

Brazilian Peppertree

Lemonade Sumac

*Brazilian Peppertree

Hardee Peppertree(Schinus polygamus)

Multiple-Choice Development Test

19 Fam., 47 Spp.19 Fam., 47 Spp.

Lemonade Sumac

Summary• A. pipitzi Weevil First Stem Borer of BP

Established in Quarantine• Biological & Host Range Studies

Completed– Results Suggest it is BP Specialist

• Stem Boring Habit of Developing Larvae Should Protect Weevil from Predation

• Release Petition is in Preparation

Brazilian Peppertree Management Plan

http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/BPmanagPlan.pdfhttp://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf/BPmanagPlan.pdf

• BP Management Plan Revised 2006– 2nd Edition Available

In Print and On-Line:

http://www.fleppc.org/Manage_Plans/schinus.pdfhttp://www.fleppc.org/Manage_Plans/schinus.pdf

TD

OutlineOutline•• IntroductionIntroduction•• Status of Candidate Biological Control Status of Candidate Biological Control

AgentsAgents•• Questions? Comments? Questions? Comments?

Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree, - UF/IFAS … A...• J.H. Pedrosa-Macedo ... – As...

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