Release and persistence of the Brazilian peppertree biological control agent Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Florida

Authors

  • Greg Wheeler USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
  • Carey Minteer University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA
  • Eric Rohrig Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, 1911 S.W. 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
  • Sedonia Steininger Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry, 1911 S.W. 34th Street, Gainesville, Florida 32608, USA
  • Rebecca Nestle USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
  • Dale Halbritter USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
  • Jorge Leidi USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
  • Min Rayamajhi USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33314, USA
  • Emily Le Falchier University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Indian River Research and Education Center, Fort Pierce, Florida, USA

Abstract

Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is an invasive weed of natural and agricultural areas of California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, USA. A thrips, Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), was permitted and released in 2019 as the first biological control agent for this invasive weed in Florida, USA. The thrips feeds on flushing leaves that are produced during the vegetative season of the host. Together, the USDA–ARS, University of Florida, and Florida Department of Food and Consumer Services combined efforts to mass produce and release P. ichini throughout the Brazilian peppertree-invaded range in Florida. Between May 2019 and Dec 2021, more than 2 million P. ichini were released at 567 sites in Florida. Over this period, P. ichini persisted at up to 60% of the survey sites for at least 1 generation as indicated by recovery of thrips adults at least 60 d after release. These results indicate that this thrips, a classical biological control agent, has persisted in the invaded range of Brazilian peppertree in Florida with populations evident at many release sites. This biological control agent will provide land managers with a safe and cost-effective means of controlling Brazilian peppertree.

 

Resumen

El pimentero brasileño, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), es una maleza invasora de áreas naturales y agrícolas de California, Florida, Hawái y Texas, EE. UU. Un trips, Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), fue autorizado y liberado en el 2019 como el primer agente de control biológico para esta maleza invasora en Florida, EE. UU. Los trips se alimentan de las hojas enrojecidas que se producen durante la temporada vegetativa del hospedero. Juntos, el USDA-ARS, la Universidad de Florida y el Departamento de Alimentos y Servicios al Consumidor de Florida combinaron esfuerzos para producir en masa y liberar P. ichini en toda la zona de distribución invadida por pimenteros brasileños en Florida. Entre mayo del 2019 y diciembre del 2021, se liberaron más de 2 millones de P. ichini en 567 sitios de Florida. Durante este período, P. ichini persistió en el 60% de los sitios de estudio durante al menos 1 generación, como lo indica la recuperación de adultos de trips al menos 60 días después de la liberación. Estos resultados indican que este trips, un agente de control biológico clásico, ha persistido en el área de distribución invadida por el pimentero brasileño en Florida con poblaciones evidentes en muchos de los sitios de liberación. Este agente de control biológico proporcionará a los administradores de tierras un medio seguro y rentable para controlar el pimentero brasileño.

Key Words: weed biological control; Schinus terebinthifolia; release; persistence

 

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Published

2022-10-07

Issue

Vol. 105, No. 3 (September 2022)

Section

Research Papers

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