Horticultural technique for rearing and redistribution of the sessile biological control agent, Rhizaspidiotus donacis on its host plant, Arundo donax

Authors: VILLARREAL, JOSEPH - University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Goolsby, John; VACEK, ANN - University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Perez De Leon, Adalberto - Beto; RACELIS, ALEX - University Of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Submitted to: Subtropical Agriculture and Environments
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/7/2016
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Arundo donax, giant reed or carrizo cane, an invasive weed in the riparian habitats of the Rio Grande Basin, is now widespread along the Rio Grande Basin in Texas, northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S. In Texas, large areas of giant reed cause serious environmental damage by displacing native flora and fauna, and facilitating the invasion of cattle fever ticks from Mexico. Giant reed also interferes with visibility of the international border for law enforcement and competes for scarce water resources in an arid region which experiences frequent droughts, and potential changes in rainfall patterns from climate change. A biological control program using specialist insects from the native range in Mediterranean Europe, including the arundo scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis, has been implemented. The arundo scale is a sessile insect that spends most of its life cycle affixed to its host plant, thus creating challenges for its rearing and redistribution to field sites. A horticultural technique was developed which allowed for rearing of the scale on small, potted A. donax microplants, which could later be transplanted. Female scale reach maturity on the microplants and produce mobile crawler scale, which move to adjacent uninfested A. donax plants. Arundo scale were established at 48 sites on the Rio Grande using microplants. This horticulture technique allows for movement of the arundo scale at any stage in its life cycle to field sites to conduct biological control programs for A. donax where it is invasive.

Technical Abstract: Arundo donax, giant reed, is an invasive weed in the riparian habitats of the Rio Grande Basin. A biological control program using specialist insects from the native range in Mediterranean Europe, including the arundo scale, Rhizaspidiotus donacis, has been implemented. The arundo scale is a sessile insect that spends most of its life cycle affixed to its host plant, thus creating challenges for its rearing and redistribution to field sites. A horticultural technique was developed which allowed for rearing of the scale on small, potted A. donax microplants, which could later be transplanted. Female scale reach maturity on the microplants and produce mobile crawler scale, which move to adjacent uninfested A. donax plants. Arundo scale were established at 48 sites on the Rio Grande using microplants. This horticulture technique allows for movement of the arundo scale at any stage in its life cycle to field sites to conduct biological control programs for A. donax where it is invasive.