Project Number: 6629-22000-011-52
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Aug 15, 2012
End Date: Jun 03, 2013

Objective:
To conduct specificity trials of Neostromboceros albicomus on Lygodium volubile, and of Lygomusotima stria on a full suite of potential host plants closely and distantly related to Lygodium microphyllum.

Approach:
1. Sawflies from the American Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL) will be used to establish a healthy colony on L. microphyllum in the IPRL quarantine facility. We will then introduce adults into mating cages containing the Jamaican L. volubile to induce oviposition on these plants. Once established on L. volubile, the sawfly populations will be monitored for persistence through multiple generations on this plant species. 2. Conduct a full suite of host trials, including no choice and multiple choice tests presenting both cut foliage and whole plants of all the U.S. and Caribbean Lygodium species we possess or can obtain (the Cuban endemic L. cubense is currently unavailable, for example). We will also present a selection of closely related (within Order Schizaeales) and commercially important fern species as food resources, employing a suite of species similar to that used for the two previously approved moths.