Biological control of lantana, prickly pear, and Hamakua pamakani inhawah: a review and update

Author:

Davis, Clifton J., Yoshioka, Ernest, Kageler, Dina

Title:

Biological control of lantana, prickly pear, and Hamakua pamakani inhawah: a review and update

Periodical:

Alien Plant Invasions in Native Ecosystems of Hawaii: Management and Research

Year:

1992

Pages:

p. 411-431

Subject:

Alien plants control Weeds control Invasive plants Beneficial insects

Summary:

The biological control of noxious weeds in Hawaii has been carried on intermittently since 1902, when insects and diseases of lantana (Lantana camara) were sought in Mexico by the Territorial Board of Agriculture and Forestry (now Hawaii Department of Agriculture). This approach was subsequently employed for the control of 20 other noxious weed pests between the 1940s and 1970s. Lantana was the first weed to be controlled by this method in the U.S. Results were very dramatic in some areas of the State, especially after later introductions by Hawaiian and Australian entomologists resulted in heavy stress on lantana. In addition to lantana, excellent results have been obtained in the biological control of cacti (Opuntia spp.), and Hamakua pamakani (Ageratina riparia). Prior to the introduction of cactus insects in 1949, 66,000 a (26,400 ha) of Parker Ranch range lands on Hawaii Island were infested with cacti. By 1965, 7,610 a (less than 3,080 ha) remained infested, the result of three introduced insects and an accidentally introduced fungus disease; the red-fruited variety of cactus is particularly susceptible to the fungus. A spineless variety of the cactus occurs in the Ainahou-Poliokeawe Pali sector of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and biocontrol efforts are in progress. With the introduction of insects from Mexico and a foliar fungus disease from Jamaica, Hamakua pamakani is under excellent control on many ranch as well as privately owned and government lands on Hawaii Island. The pathogenic fungus introduced into Hawaii specifically for Hamakua pamakani represents the first successful attempt to establish a disease of this noxious weed.

URL:

http://www.hear.org/books/apineh1992/pdfs/apineh1992iv1davisetal.pdf

Collection:

Monographs