Invasive Plant Science and Management (2008) 1, 352-358

Karin Burkhart and Wolfgang Nentwig (2008)
Control of Impatiens glandulifera (Balsaminaceae) by antagonists in its invaded range
Invasive Plant Science and Management 1 (4), 352-358
Abstract: Field and garden experiments were performed to investigate if pathogens, generalist herbivores, or a specialist herbivore (the tortricid moth Pristerognatha fuligana) have the potential to control the invasive Himalayan balsam. Impacts of generalist herbivores and pathogenic fungi were excluded by using thiacloprid and trifloxystrobin. Results show no effect of any antagonist in the field experiment, though we found a modest impact of the combined influence of generalist herbivores and pathogenic fungi in the garden experiment, i.e., under suboptimal growing conditions. Limited information from the native area (the Himalayas) suggests a strong impact of specialist herbivores, thus confirming the enemy release hypothesis. We predict that impact studies of native specialized herbivores will clearly indicate antagonists from the native area with a strong impact on Himalayan balsam in its invaded area.
(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): Wolfgang Nentwig

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Impatiens glandulifera (weed)
Pristerognatha fuligana (weed bioagent)	Impatiens glandulifera (weed)