Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health
Project Number: 2030-22000-033-007-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 16, 2018
End Date: Jul 11, 2023
Objective:
Conduct foreign explorations for natural enemies of plants that are considered invasive weeds in the U.S.A., with the goal of colonizing insect populations for host range testing. Specific focus will be placed initially on natural enemies of medusahead and yellow starthistle.
Approach:
1. Search herbaria records or use expert knowledge to determine the native range of the target weed.
2. Survey plants in areas climatically similar to the region of interest (Pacific coastal states of U.S.A.) for herbivores.
3. Collect and, when possible, develop colonies of promising arthropods that may be suitable to biological control.
4. Acquire appropriate export permits when needed.
5. Ship arthropods to USDA partners for use in host range testing.
