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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214198
Title: Neomusotima fuscolinealis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) an unsuitable biological control agent of Lygodium japonicum.

Author
item Bennett, Christine
item Pemberton, Robert

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/20/2007
Publication Date: 3/1/2008
Citation: Bennett, C., Pemberton, R.W. 2008. Neomusotima fuscolinealis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) an unsuitable biological control agent of Lygodium japonicum.. Florida Entomologist, Vol. 91, Issue 1 (March 2008)pp. 26-29.

Interpretive Summary: Lygodium japonicum is an invasive weed in the southern part of the United States which is becoming more abundant. A leaf feeding moth Neomusotima fuscolinealis was discovered to feed on L. japoncium in its native Japan. To determine whether or not the moth was suitable as a potential biological control agent of the weed, we conducted host range testing against valued ferns. Larvae and pupae of the moth were imported from Japan to the Florida Biological Control Laboratory in Gainesville to conduct this host range research and to determine the moths life cycle and reproduction parameters. No significant feeding or development occurred on five tested rare Florida ferns. However the rare North American native climbing fern, Lygodium palmatum, supported complete development of the moth, and six continuous generations of the moth were reared on the fern. Because the rare L. palmatum and the invasive L. japonicum co-occur in the US, the release of N. fuscolinealis could result in the harm to L. palmatum, a risk that determined the moth to be unsuitable as a potential biological control of L. japonicum.

Technical Abstract: Neomusotima fuscolinealis Yoshiyasu was discovered to feed on and damage the leaves of Lygodium japonicum (Thunberg ex Murray) Swartz, an invasive weed in Florida and the southeastern U.S., in its native Japan. Larvae and pupae of the moth were imported into the quarantine facility at the Florida Biological Control Laboratory, Gainesville, Florida to establish a colony to conduct preliminary host range studies and to define its lifecycle and reproduction parameters. Larvae of the moth did not feed significantly nor develop on five tested rare, native Florida ferns. The rare North American native climbing fern, Lygodium palmatum (Bernhardi) Swartz, however, supported complete development of N. fuscolinealis, and six continuous generations of the moth were reared on the fern. Because the rare L. palmatum and the invasive L. japonicum co-occur in the US, the release of N. fuscolinealis could result in the harm to L. palmatum, a risk that determined the moth to be unsuitable as a potential biological control of L. japonicum.