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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #357108
Research Project: Identification, Evaluation, and Implementation of Biological Control Agents for Invasive Weeds of Southeastern Ecosystems

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: The first pupal parasitoids of Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a biological control agent of Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae) in Florida

Author
item Lake, Ellen
item Kula, Robert
item Gates, Michael
item Smith, Melissa
item MINTEER, CAREY - University Of Florida
item Tipping, Philip

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/20/2019
Publication Date: 4/1/2019
Citation: Lake, E.C., Kula, R.R., Gates, M.W., Smith, M., Minteer, C., Tipping, P.W. 2019. The first pupal parasitoids of Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a biological control agent of Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae) in Florida. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 121(2):314-319. https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.121.2.314.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4289/0013-8797.121.2.314

Interpretive Summary: Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae), Old World climbing fern, was initially cultivated in the USA but escaped cultivation and was first reported as a naturalized weed in Florida in 1965. This aggressive vine invades many habitat types and destroys native plant communities. Two biological control agents for L. microphyllum have established in Florida. One of these agents, Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), was first released in Florida in 2008. Parasitoids were reared from field-collected N. conspurcatalis larvae within three years of its introduction to Florida. We collected N. conspurcatalis pupae from two field sites in Florida. Here, we report the first parasitoids reared from N. conspurcatalis pupae: Brachymeria molestae Burks (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and Pimpla marginella Brulle (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Further research is needed to determine if additional species of parasitoids in the introduced range will begin to attack N. conspurcatalis and if parasitoids could limit populations of this biological control agent and potentially reduce its effectiveness.

Technical Abstract: Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae), Old World climbing fern, escaped cultivation in the USA and was first reported as naturalized in Florida in 1965. This aggressive vine invades wetland and mesic habitats, destroying native plant communities. Two biological control agents for L. microphyllum have established in Florida. One of these agents, Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), acquired five larval parasitoid natural enemies after its introduction to Florida in 2008. Here, we report the first parasitoids reared from N. conspurcatalis pupae collected from two field sites in Florida. These parasitoids were identified as Brachymeria molestae Burks (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) and Pimpla marginella Brulle (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Further research is needed to determine if N. conspurcatalis will continue to acquire parasitoids in its introduced range and if parasitoids are limiting populations of this biological control agent, thereby potentially reducing its efficacy.