Potential for Biological Control of Weeds

in the Pacific

Mic Julien

Weeds list: from meeting of Pacific Heads of Plant

Protection held in Fiji in 2004

Weed Cook Fiji Kirib Niue

N.

Cal Palau PNG CNMI FSM Tuvalu Samoa

Chromolaena odorata 3 6 5 9

Mikania micrantha 3 3 7 1 4 2 2 5

Mimosa pigra 9

Mimosa diplotricha 5 3 4 8 4 5

Sida spp 10 8 7 7

Xanthium strumarium 7 10

Parthenium

hysterophorus 6 11

Piper aduncum 3

Rottboelia

cochinchinensis 2

Sorghum halepens 1

Cyperus rotundus 8 1 5

69 weed species. Each species occurring in at least 1 but up to 11 PICTs

This talk -

• Using the 2004 list of 69 weed species

• 30 weed species have a history of biological control.

• Summarised in a table that you have.

• I will give a brief over-view and some examples of biological control research

that may be of interest in the Pacific.

• The aim of this talk is to alert you to weeds that may have

potential for biological control and provide a starting point to seek

more information.

The weeds were divided into 5 groups

1. Where value can be added by moving agents within the

PICTs, ie, agents are already in some PICTs, e.g.,

Eichhornia crassipes. 9 species

2. Utilising known agents from other countries, e.g.,

Mimosa pigra agents in Australia. 12 species

3. Utilising current research underway by other countries,

e.g. Passiflora species being studied for NZ. 7 species

4. Surveying for and selecting new agents, e.g.,

Spathodea campanulata surveys in Africa. 2 species

5. No history of biological control, e.g., Mormodica

charantia. 39 species

Group 1: Adding value

Weed

Potential

for bio

control

Country

with bio

control Agent name

Release

date

establ

ished

effec

tive

Agents could be

released in

Mikania

micrantha ?

Solomon

Is Liothrips mikaniae 1988 no

Cook Is; Nuie; Palau;

FSM; Tuvalu; Samoa;

Vanuatu

Fiji Puccinia spegazzinii 2009 yes

PNG Puccinia spegazzinii 2008 yes

Lantana

camara low FSM Epinota lantana 1948 yes ?

Cook Is; CNMI;

Samoa; Vanuatu;

Marshall Is.

Palau Epinota lantana yes ?

FSM

Lantanophaga

pusillidactyla 1948 yes yes

Fiji Ophiomyia lantanae 1911 yes ?

N Cal Ophiomyia lantanae 1911 yes ?

Fiji

Teleonemia

scrupulosa 1928 yes ?

Salvinia

molesta high PNG

Cyrtobagous

salviniae 1982 yes yes N Cal.

Fiji

Cyrtobagous

salviniae 1991 yes yes

Fiji

Cyrtobagous

singularis 1979 yes no

Fiji Paulinia acuminata 1975 yes no

Group 1: Adding value – 9 species

Agents released

in

Agents could be released

in

Chromolaena odorata PNG, Palau, FSM Palau; CNMI; Marshall Is.

Mikania micrantha Fiji, PNG Cook Is; Nuie; Palau; FSM;

Tuvalu; Samoa; Vanuatu

Lantana camara FSM, etc Cook Is; CNMI; Samoa;

Vanuatu; Marshall Is.

Salvinia molesta Fiji, PNG N Cal.

Eichhornia crassipes Fiji, PNG, etc N Cal; Fiji, Nauru, Solomon

Is, Vanuatu

Pistia stratiotes PNG Vanuatu

Sida acuta Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu N Cal; Tuvalu; Solomons

Sida rhombifolia Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu N Cal; Tuvalu; Solomons

Mimosa diplotricha Cook Is, etc Niue; N Cal; Palau; CNMI;

Tuvalu

• Moving agents from one PICT to another (or between islands within a country) is a simple, cheap and fast way of developing biological control.

• Includes moving a second or third agent, e.g. Neochetina bruchi for water hyacinth has only been released in PNG.

• Includes extending current projects to other countries, e.g., on Chromolaena odorata, Mikania micrantha and Lantana camara.

• Many weeds in this group have high potential for biological control, e.g., Salvinia molesta, Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Sida spp. and Mimosa diplotricha.

• Two examples of successful control where agents can be spread to other countries are -

• water hyacinth (agents in PNG)

• Sida (agents in PNG)

Group 1: Adding value

Example 1: Water hyacinth – Eichhornia crassipes

• Floating aquatic plant

• Grows in wide range of conditions

• Evolved to withstand variable water levels, stranding, desiccation, floods

• Reproduces by seed and production of daughter plants (off-shoots)

Weedy characteristics of water hyacinth

Worst aquatic weed• Very high growth rates

• x2 wt & no. in 1 to 3 wks

• Wide growth tolerances • 10ºC to 40ºC

• pH 4 to 10

• high light to shade

• pristine to eutrophic waters

• Limited by cold and space 40ºN

40ºS

It is spread by man

Arles market, southern France May 2008

Hotel pond with water hyacinth, Papua New

Guinea; Mar ‘93

Biological control of water hyacinth

• Initially researched by USDA in 1960s-70s

• Releases began in 1972 and 1974 in USA

• Dramatic declines in acreage of water hyacinth in USA followed

the releases

Neochetina bruchi

Neochetina eichhorniae

Water

hyacinth

weevils

Biological control of water hyacinth

• Implemented in 34 countries

• Mostly with the Neochetina weevils

• Other insects and a mite are also used

Mite:Orthogalumna

terebrantis

Moth: Niphograpta

albiguttalis

Mirid: Ecritotarsus

catarinensis

Papua New Guinea

Sepik River

Papua New Guinea, Sepik River

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

May-90 Sep-91 Jan-93 Jun-94 Oct-95 Mar-97 Jul-98 Dec-99

Nu

mb

er a

nd

sq

ua

re k

ms

Number of lagoons infested Estimated area infested (km2)

Weevil

releases

began

Tambali Lagoon -

% cover

No.

weevils

0

20

40

60

80

100

Jul-92 Jul-93 Jul-94 Jul-95 Jun-96 Jun-97 Jun-98

% c

ov

er

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

6.0

We

ev

ils

pe

r p

lan

t

Tambali Lagoon - cover and weevil numbers

Warasol Lagoon, Sepik river, PNG

Aug. 1997

Neochetina species

released in 1993

Feb. 1994

•N. eichhorniae has been released in Fiji, Nauru, Solomon Is and

Vanuatu.

•It could be released in New Caledonia (Pacific list 2004)

[Cook Is, French Polynesia, Marshall Is (PIER database)]

•N. bruchi could also be released in all of those countries.

Example 2: Sida species in PNG

• Sida distributed in most

areas in PNG

• Following 1997 drought

worst infestation

• Calligrapha pantherina

– bio control agent

• Imported ex Australia

December 1999

• Field released early 2000

Sida damaged by Calligrapha

Calligrapha pantherina

- defoliator

Sida under control by Calligrapha

Calligrapha damage in Sida

Thanks to Lastus Kuniata for the sida photos

Calligrapha could be released in New Caledonia, Tuvalu and

the Solomon Islands (Pacific list 2004)

[Cook Is, FSM, Fiji, Fr Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Is, Niue,

Nauru, Palau, Tonga, Vanuatu (PIER database)]

Groups 2: Utilising agents from other countries

1. Where value can be added by moving agents within the

PICTs, ie, agents are already in some PICTs, e.g.,

Eichhornia crassipes.

2. Utilising known agents from other countries, e.g.,

Mimosa pigra agents in Australia.

3. Utilising current research underway by other countries,

e.g. Passiflora species being studied for NZ

4. Surveying for and selecting new agents, e.g., Spathodea

campanulata surveys in Africa

5. No history of biological control, e.g., Mormodica

charantia

Group 2: Known agents (not in PICTs)

Parthenium

hysterophorus high Australia

Bucculatrix

parthenica 1984 yes yes

N Cal;

PNG;

Vanuatu

Australia

Epiblema

strenuana 1982 yes yes

Xanthium

strumarium high Australia

Epiblema

strenuana 1984 yes yes Fiji; PNG

Australia

Puccinia

xanthii 1974 yes yes

Mimosa pigra high Australia

Acanthosceli

des puniceus 1983 yes yes PNG

Neurostrota

gunniella 1989 yes yes

Carmenta

mimosa 1989 yes yes

Coelocephala

pion pigrae 1994 yes ?

Hydrilla

verticillata low USA

Hydrellia

palistanae 1995 yes yes Fiji

Buddleja davidii unknown NZ

Cleopus

japonicus

rece

ntly yes ? PNG

Group 2: Known agents (12 species)

Agents available Agents could be released into

Parthenium

hysterophorus

Australia N Cal; PNG; Vanuatu

Xanthium

strumarium

Australia Fiji; PNG

Mimosa pigra Australia PNG

Hydrilla verticillata USA Fiji

Buddleja davidii NZ PNG

Cirsium vulgare Canada, NZ N Cal

Clidemia hirta Hawai’i Palau; W&F

Pluchea indicus Hawai'i Tuvalu

Passiflora species Hawai'i Cook Is; Fiji, FSM; F Poly; N Cal;

Palau, Samoa; W&F; CNMI;

Pitcairn

Rottboelia

cochinchinensis

CABI PNG

Cyperus rotundus Fiji, etc Fiji; N Cal; PNG; Tonga; W&F;

Solomon Is

2 examples follow. They are;

•Xanthium strumarium, and

•Mimosa pigra

Coccinia grandis: Hawai’i and Marianna Is: Niue, CNMI, FSM, Marshall Is

Example 1: Xanthium strumarium (noogoora

burr)

The rust fungus Puccinia xanthii

Puccinia xanthii controlling noogoora burr

Agents in Australia could be introduced to Fiji and PNG (Pacific list 2004)

[Cook Is, French Polynesia, New Caledonia] (PIER database)

Example 2: Mimosa pigra

1978

2004

1981

Invasion

Biological control

Mimosa pigra in Australia

• 15 agents released since project started in 1980

• Perhaps another to be released 2010?

• 9 have established

• At least two are having a measured impact

• Another four are also probably contributing to control

Biological control of Mimosa pigra

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

19

80

19

82

19

84

19

86

19

88

19

90

19

92

19

94

19

96

19

98

20

00

20

02

20

04

20

06

20

08

Cu

m. N

um

be

r o

f a

ge

nts

agents released

agents established

agents having impact

• Carmenta mimosa

(large stem boring moth)

• Seed rain was negatively

correlated with

Carmenta damage

• Same for seed bank

• Stands with Carmenta

are retreating

Mimosa dying from Carmenta attack

Agents having an impact

Agents having an impact:

• Neurostrota gunniella (small stem boring moth)

Agents that may be having impact

Acanthoscelides puniceus

(Seed bruchid)

Coelocephalapion pigrae

(Flower feeding weevil)

Malacorhinus irregularis

•Released in 2000

•Large numbers at

some locations

•Defoliation

Agents that may be having impact

Macaria pallidata

• Looper moth

• Released in 2002

• Already widely

established

Leuciris found for first time in March 2009

• At Berrimah Farm and Adelaide River.

• Released from 2004 until 2007

Nesaecrepida infuscata

• Leaf beetle

• Larvae breed in roots

• First release made 2007

• Mass rearing and release

underway

New releases; established – impact unknown

?

?

?

? ?

?

?

?Mimosa pigra agents needed in PNG (Pacific list 2004)

Tim Heard CSIRO provided the photos

Group 3: Current research

1. Where value can be added by moving agents within the

PICTs, ie, agents are already in some PICTs, e.g.,

Eichhornia crassipes.

2. Utilising known agents from other countries, e.g.,

Mimosa pigra agents in Australia.

3. Utilising current research underway by other countries,

e.g. Passiflora species being studied for NZ

4. Surveying for and selecting new agents, e.g., Spathodea

campanulata surveys in Africa

5. No history of biological control, e.g., Mormodica

charantia

Weed Research in Could benefit

Passiflora species NZ Cook Is; Fiji, FSM; F Poly; N

Cal; Palau, Samoa; W&F;

CNMI; Pitcairn

Cardiospermum

grandiflorum

South Africa Cook Is

Egeria densa USA F Poly

Tradescantia

fluminensis

NZ Tonga

Hedychium CABI Cook Is; Fiji; FSM

Solanum

mauritianum

NZ Cook Is; N Cal

Psidium sp USA? Samoa

Group 3: Future use of current research (7 species)

One example:

•Cardiospermum grandiflorum (balloon vine)

Example 1: Cardiospermum grandiflorum

Balloon vine

• Native range northern Argentina

Cardiospermum grandiflorum Balloon vine

Contarinia sp. Fruit-galling

Cecidomyiidae

Puccinia arechavaletaeSeed-feeding Hymenoptera,

Lisseurytomella flava

Cissoanthonomus tuberculipennis,

seed-feeding weevil

Problem in Cook Islands (Pacific list 2004)

[French Polynesia (PIER database)]

Photos from Fernando McKay

Group 4: Selecting new agents

1. Where value can be added by moving agents within the

PICTs, ie, agents are already in some PICTs, e.g.,

Eichhornia crassipes.

2. Utilising known agents from other countries, e.g.,

Mimosa pigra agents in Australia.

3. Utilising current research underway by other countries,

e.g. Passiflora species being studied for NZ

4. Surveying for and selecting new agents, e.g.,

Spathodea campanulata surveys in Africa

5. No history of biological control, e.g., Mormodica

charantia

Group 4: Selecting new agents

Weed Could benefit

Clerodendrum

chinense

(past project)

Native range

surveys

Select

agents

Cook Is; Fiji; Niue;

FSM; Samoa

Spathodea

campanulata

(current project)

Native range

surveys

Select

agents

Cook Is; Fiji; Palau;

FSM; Vanuata; W&F;

Naru

Information on both species follows

Example: Clerodendrum chinense

(Honolulu rose)

Fiji, Feb 1991

Occurs in Cook Is, Fiji, Niue,

Samoa

Example: Clerodendrum chinensis (Honolulu rose)

Preliminary surveys

• Vietnam 1991

• China 1992

• Supported by ACIAR

as phase 1. Not

supported to phase 2

C. Chinense var. simplex

?

Leaf feeding beetles

Phyllocarus undulata

Collected from Vietnam and released in Thailand in 1990

Stem borers: weevils and cerambycids

Fungi and gallers

Rust on C. paniculatum, Vietnam

Gall flies (Cecidomyidae)

Needed in Cook Is; Fiji, Niue; Samoa (Pacific list 2004

[FSM, Fr Polynesia, PNG, Tonga (PIER database)]

Example 2: Spathodea campanulata (African tulip)

Spathodea campanulata (African tulip)

Ghana

• Plant genetic work is underway.

• Pacific plant is morphological similar with West Africa

Origins of African tulip

Group 5: No history of biological control

1. Where value can be added by moving agents within the

PICTs, ie, agents are already in some PICTs, e.g.,

Eichhornia crassipes.

2. Utilising known agents from other countries, e.g.,

Mimosa pigra agents in Australia.

3. Utilising current research underway by other countries,

e.g. Passiflora species being studied for NZ

4. Surveying for and selecting new agents, e.g., Spathodea

campanulata surveys in Africa

5. No history of biological control, e.g., Mormodica

charantia

Group 5: No biological control (39 species)

Mormodica charantia Mimosa pudica Thunbergia grandiflora

Luffa sp Starchytarpheta

urticifolia

Clerodendrum

quadriloculare

Tuneria ulmifolia Merremia peltata Antignon leptopus

Pluchea carolinensis Senna tora Pennisetum purpureum

Piper aduncum Commelina sp

Scindapsus Solanum torvum Sphagneticola triloba

Cassytha filiformis Elusine indica Kyllingia polyphylla

Cleome sp Piper auritum Bidens pilosa

Euphorbia hirta Broussotia sp Desmodium incanum

Occimum gratissimum Albizia sp Paspalum maximum

Acacia farnesiana Sorghum halepens Fue' (vine)

Amaranthus spinosus (Occimum

grattissimum)

Creeping vine

Imperata cylindrica Ageratina conyzoides Sedge

indet Legume (?)

Coccinia grandis was here!

Opportunities

• Low cost to develop biological control

• Options 1 to 3 cash-in on existing knowledge and provide fast-track

• Requires

• Entomological and plant pathological skills

• Needs organisations to provide dedicate staff

• Adequate funding

• Adequate time

• One of the known causes of failures in bio control is inadequate

resourcing.

• Package projects for greater impact

• Package with a collaborating research partners if research is

needed (option 4).

• Package across countries with the same weed species problem.

Acknowledgements and references

• Personal communications

• L Hayes; L Kuniata; M Day; W Orapa; S Neser; T Heard; A Fourie; D

Simelane; C Ellison

• Biological control information was taken from:

• Day et al 2003; Day and Bofeng 2007

• Cabrera Walsh et al. 2008

• Julien 1993; Julien & Griffiths 1996; Julien et al 2007; Julien & Orapa 2001

• McKay et al 2008

• Orapa 2005

• Pedrosa-Macedo 2004

• Waterhouse & Norris 1987

• Zacharides et al 2009

Thank you