Current Status of the Biological Control Agent Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), on Lygodium microphyllum (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae) in Florida

Authors

  • Melissa C. Smith USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
  • Ellen C. Lake USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
  • Paul D. Pratt USDA-ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory, 3225 College Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314
  • Anthony J. Boughton University of Florida, Tropical Research & Education Center, Homestead, FL 33031
  • Robert W. Pemberton Research Associate, Florida Museum of Natural History; USDA-Agricultural Research Service (retired)

Keywords:

Lygodium microphyllum, Neomusotima conspurcatalis, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, establishment

Abstract

The brown Lygodium defoliating moth, Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), was released beginning in 2008 to control Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae). The moth readily established in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, but at other sites populations remained at low densities or were locally extirpated. In 2012 and 2013, we recovered N. conspurcatalis populations at all original release sites except Everglades National Park and those treated with herbicide. The original releases of 4,000 or more individuals per site were entirely successful, pointing to a strategy that focuses on numbers at this target level or beyond for future releases in Florida.

 

La polilla marrón defoliadora del Lygodium, Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), fue liberada a partir del 2008 para controlar el helecho trepador del Mundo Antiguo, Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae). La polilla se estableció fácilmente en el Parque Estatal de Jonathan Dickinson, pero en otros lugares la población se mantuvo en baja densidad o fue extinguida localmente. En 2012 y 2013, recuperamos poblaciones de N. conspurcatalis en todos los sitios donde fueron liberadas inicialmente, excepto el Parque Nacional de los Everglades y los lugares tratados con herbicida. Las liberaciones iniciales de 4000 o más individuos por sitio fueron completemente exitosas, que apunta a una estrategia que se centra en liberar números en este nivel o más para futuras liberaciones en la Florida.

 

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Published

2014-06-21

Issue

Vol. 97, No. 2 (June 2014)

Section

Scientific Notes

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