R. MuniappanIPM CRSP

First Successful Biological Control of a Weed -1795

Control of Opuntia monacantha by Dactylopius ceylonicus in India (1796-1809)

Subsequently released in Sri Lanka, Australia and South Africa

Opuntia stricta damaged by Dactylopius opuntiae photos by H. Zimmermann

Chromolaena odorata(Eupatorium odoratum) Asteraceae (Compositae)

In a coconut plantation

Flowers in Dec. – Jan. in N. Hemisphere and June – July

in S. Hemisphere

Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata (Lep. Arctiidae)

Chromolaena defoliated by Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata in Rota

Yellowing of Chromoalena due to Insect Induced Defense

Marutnai and Muniappan (1991) Ann. Appl. Biol. 119: 227-237

Electron microscopy of leaf tissue

Green leaf Yellow leaf

Eriophyid mite, Acalitus adoratus

Infested leaf Distribution

Gall fly, Cecidochares connexa(Dip.: Tephretidae)

Gall fly ovipositing in the terminal shoot

Photo by Desmier de Chinon

Distribution of gall fly

Cecidochares connexa

Gall Maggots in side the gall

Minerals in nutrient sink of the galls

Chromolaena workshop conducted

Seven Proceedings and 17 Newsletters published

1988 – Bangkok, Thailand

1991 – Bogor, Indonesia1993 – Abidjan, Ivory

Coast1966 – Bangalore, India2000 – Durban, South

Africa2003 – Cairns, Australia2006 – Pingtung, Taiwan

Coccinia grandis in Guam

Coccinia grandis flowers & fruits

Acythopeus cocciniae (Curculionidae)Adult weevils Larval mining

Acythopeus burkhartorum (Curculionidae)

AdultGall in the

tendril

Pupal chamber

Melittia oedipus (Sesiidae)

Adult Larva in the stem

Coccinia grandis biocontrol in Hawaii (Waimanalo, Hilo)Pictures: courtesy of Hawaii Department of Agriculture

Before release of biocontrol agents

Six years after release of biocontrol agents

Lantana camara (Verbenaceae)

Uroplatis girardi, a leaf mining chrysomelid beetle

Adult Leaf damaged by grubs

Tingid bug, Teleonomia scrupulosa

AdultFlower damaged by Lantanophaga pusilidactyla (Pterophoridae)

Parthenium hysterophorus(Asteraceae)

A field covered by Parthenium in India

Parthenium defoliated by Zygogramma histrophorus (Chrysomelidae)

Photos: K. Dhileepan

Giant sensitive plant, Mimosa diplotricha (Mimosaceae)

Pictures: L. KuniataM. diplotricha infested area in Papua New Guinea

Heteropsylla spinosa – Effect of nirogen application

d) Damage

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

13-Dec-91

20-Dec-91

27-Dec-91

3-Jan-92 7-Jan-92 8-Feb-92

Dam

age

scor

e (1

=no

cont

rol,

10

= co

mpl

ete

cont

rol)

Control Urea

a) Adults

0

5

10

15

20

25

13-Dec-91 20-Dec-91 27-Dec-91 3-Jan-92 7-Jan-92 8-Feb-92

Adu

lts p

er 3

0cm

tip

Control Urea

Salvinia molesta contol by Cyrtobagous salviniae Photos : P. Room and M. Julien

Waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipesWaterhyacinth flower A pond in India infested

by waterhyacinth

Waterhyacinth in PNGPhotos: J.A. Coetzee et al.

Waterhyacinth in a lake before and after release of Neochetina eichornieiae and N. bruchi Photos: J.A. Coetzee et al.

Weed Country Benefit/cost ratio

Acacia longifolia (Andr.) willd South Africa 104

Acacia pycantha Benth South Africa 665

Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl.) South Africa 800

Azolla filiculoides South Africa 2.513

Eichhornia crassipes BeninAustralia

12427.5

Lantana camara South AfricaAustraliaAustralia

225.69

Benefit cost analysis for the biological control of invasive weeds in the tropics

Weed Country Benefit/cost ratio

Mimosa diplotricha Australia 17.6

Mimosa pigra Australia 0.8

Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley South Africa 709

Opuntia spp. Australia 312.3

Parthenium hysterophorus L. Australia 7.2

Pistia stratoides Australia 27.5

Prosopis spp. Australia 0.5

Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitchell AustraliaSri Lanka

Zimbabwe

27.553

10.6

Benefit cost analysis for the biological control of invasive weeds in the tropics (Contd.)