Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health
Project Number: 2030-22300-032-009-I
Project Type: Interagency Reimbursable Agreement
Start Date: Jan 15, 2019
End Date: Sep 30, 2022
Objective:
The focus areas of this work are to begin quarantine research on the Ludwigia thrips, L. ludwigi. Specifically, objectives are to: 1) Determine host plant test list through phylogenetic centrifugal approach and culture plant collections; and 2) Host range testing using no-choice (without the target weed) and dual host-choice (comparison of target and non-target species).
Approach:
This study will build upon the growing body of literature that documents non-target risks from herbivores with narrow host ranges is the greatest for species that are closely related (phylogenetically) to their primary or preferred host. The methods used herein will investigate the use (i.e., feeding, development and reproduction) by L. ludwigi of species that are close relatives (non-target) of the four target taxa and thus at greatest risk, including other closely related genera within the family Onagraceae.
