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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #415820
Research Project: Development and Implementation of Biological Control Programs for Natural Area Weeds in the Southeastern United States

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Post-release support of host range predictions for two Lygodium Microphyllum biological control agents

Author
item Aquino-Thomas, Jessene
item MATTISON FRANK, ELIZABETH - Retired ARS Employee
item LAKE, ELLEN - Mt Cuba Center
item Smith, Melissa
item Carmona Cortes, Andrea
item Crees, Logan
item Dray Jr, Forrest

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/6/2025
Publication Date: 3/4/2025
Citation: Aquino-Thomas, J.M., Mattison Frank, E., Lake, E., Smith, M., Carmona Cortes, A., Crees, L.D., Dray Jr, F.A. 2025. Post-release support of host range predictions for two Lygodium Microphyllum biological control agents. Florida Entomologist. 108(1). https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2024-0050.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/flaent-2024-0050

Interpretive Summary: A field test was conducted to assess if there were any impacts from the two biological control agents, Floracarus perrepae and Neomusotima conspurcatalis, on ferns other than Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum. These biological control agents are released to aid in the management of Old World climbing fern and laboratory studies found that the agents would only host - live or feed on - Old World climbing fern or very closely related ferns not found in Florida. This current study involved a thorough field survey conducted across four sites, to account for natural influences on the ferns, host, and agents. Ecological host range testing validated the predicted laboratory host ranges for the two biological control agents, confirming that agents only damaged, feed, or lived on the target fern. This same findings are what was predicted during laboratory host range testing. The survey confirmed that the efficacy of N. conspurcatalis and F. perrepae were as highly specific to L. microphyllum as neither agent damaged nor were they found on nontarget ferns.

Technical Abstract: A modified open field test was conducted to assess if there were any impacts from the two biological control agents, Floracarus perrepae and Neomusotima conspurcatalis, on non-target ferns, both individually and at the population level. These biological control agents are released to aid in the management of Lygodium microphyllum. This study involved a thorough field survey conducted across four sites, to account for natural influences on the ferns, host, and agents on specificity. Ecological host range testing validated the predicted laboratory host ranges for the two biological control agents, confirming their high specificity to the target fern as was predicted during laboratory host range testing. The survey confirmed that the efficacy of N. conspurcatalis and F. perrepae were as highly specific to L. microphyllum as neither agent damaged nor were they found on nontarget ferns.