Biocontrol Science and Technology (2021) 31, 883-895

Elisangela Gomes Fidelis, Júlio Claudio Martins, Ricardo Siqueira Silva, Pablo Costa Gontijo, Marcelo Coutinho Picanço, Robert Weingart Barreto and Jander Fagundes Rosado (2021)
Assessing herbivorous insects as potential biological controls for the invasive species Miconia calvescens (Myrtales: Melastomataceae)
Biocontrol Science and Technology 31 (9), 883-895
Abstract: Biological control methods may provide efficient and environmentally sustainable methods for curbing invasive weeds. Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) is an invasive weed of forest ecosystems on oceanic islands and one of the most invasive alien species. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and assess the population dynamics of herbivorous insects that feed on M. calvescens in Brazil. The following species were found on M. calvescens plants at our three study locations: Apion sp. (Brentidae), Agrilus sp. (Buprestidae), Cryptorhynchus sp., Naupactus spp. (Curculionidae), Brasilaphthona sp., Cerotoma sp., Chrysodina sp., Colaspis sp., Diabrotica speciosa, and one unidentified species of the subfamily Cassidinae (Chrysomelidae). According to host specificity and impact caused to M. calvescens, the fruit-feeding Apion sp. and the stem-boring Cryptorhynchus sp. have high potential for this weed's biological control. Thus, our results provide useful information for potential biological control programmes for M. calvescens using herbivorous insects and will be helpful for companies working on natural weed control for this species.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Júlio Cláudio Martins, Robert Weingart Barreto

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Miconia calvescens (weed)		Brazil (south)
	Miconia calvescens (weed)		Brazil (NE)