Weed Biological Control

Principles and Procedures

J. P. CUDA

ENTOMOLOGY & NEMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT

GAINESVILLE, FL 32611-0620
Instructor: Dr. Jim Cuda
phone (352-392-1901 ext 126)
email (jcuda@mail.ifas.ufl.edu)
Research Area: Biological Control
of Aquatic & Terrestrial Weeds
 Topics
• Weed Biological Control Concepts
• Steps in a Classical Biological
Control Program
 What is a Weed ?
• A plant out of place (HOLM ET AL. 1977)
• Introduced or native plant growing
in a situation where it has a
detrimental effect on conservation
areas, humans, or their environment
(HARLEY & FORNO 1992)
 Strategies Used For
Weed Management
Control Method Infestation

• Mechanical • Small

• Chemical • Moderate

• Biological • Widespread
Criteria for Selecting a Weed as
a Target for Biological Control
• Cause sufficient damage
– Agricultural
– Ecological
• No critical beneficial values
• Existence of natural enemies
 What is Biological Control ?
• Use of live natural enemies to suppress
weed densities or populations
• Examples of natural enemies :
– Pathogens (nematodes & diseases)
– Arthropods (insects & mites)
– Fish (grass carp)
 Biological Control vs.
Natural Regulation
• “Biological Control” is an action
taken by people
• “Natural Control or Regulation”
has no human involvement
 Biological Control Methods
1. Non-Classical Biological Control
a. Augmentative Approach
b. Inundative Approach
2. Classical Biological Control
1. Non-Classical Biocontrol
a. Augmentative
- Mass rearing and release of a
biological control agent to increase
its numbers and effect on the weed
- Applies to fish (grass carp) and some
insects (milfoil weevil)
1. Non-Classical Biocontrol
b. Inundative:
- Formulation and application of
pathogens to control weeds
- Applies to mycoherbicides
Cercospora rodmani – Water Hyacinth
Mycoleptodiscus terrestris -
Hydrilla
2. Classical Biological Control
• Introduction of natural
enemies from their native
range to control an invasive
exotic weed
• Most widely used method
 Ecological Basis for Classical BC
• Some natural enemies are host specific
(WAPSHERE ET AL. 1984)

• In the absence of their own predators

and diseases, densities of natural
enemies are influenced by their host
plant abundance (DEBACH 1974, HUFFAKER 1984)
 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(= APPLIED ECOLOGY)

2o

1o Consumer
Producer (WEED)

1o Consumer
WEED (BIOAGENT)

WEED
Objective of Biological Weed Control
• Introduce or apply natural enemies
that can suppress and maintain the
density of the weed at “ACCEPTABLE”
levels
• Biological Control is NOT eradication
 Conceptual Basis for
Weed Biological Control
• Weed establishes Weed
equilibrium density Natural Enemy
(ED)* above economic ED
injury level (EIL)**

NUMBER
EIL
• Natural enemy
lowers ED &
maintains it below ED
EIL

*ED - Long term mean density TIME

**EIL – Lowest density causing
economic or ecological
damage
 Defining Biocontrol Sucess
• Complete- No other control methods
are needed
• Substantial- Other methods needed
but at reduced level
• Negligible- Other methods are required
(HOFFMANN 1998)
Advantages of Biological Control
• Minimal impact on non-targets
• Environmentally friendly
• Classical biocontrol is permanent
• Suitable for weeds of natural areas
• Relatively inexpensive
Costs / Benefits of Classical
Weed Biocontrol Programs
Release of Bioagent

Benefits
(+$)

Time

Maintenance & Monitoring

Costs
(-$)

Research & Development

(after Mentz 1987)

 Disadvantages of Biological Control
• Control is not immediate (5–10 years)
• Except for mycoherbicides, little interest
in commercialization
• Unpredictable
– Some natural enemies fail to establish
– Some natural enemies are ineffective
Summary of Steps in a Classical
Biological Control Program

USDA-ARS
 Procedure for Classical
Weed Biological control
1. Project Initiation
2. Seek Approval and Funding
3. Foreign Exploration
4. Domestic Surveys
5. Ecological Studies on Weeds & Agents
 Procedure for Classical
Weed Biocontrol (CONT’D)
6. Host Specificity Studies
7. Seek Approval for Release of Agents
8. Rearing and Release
9. Evaluation of Effects
10. Distribution (& Augmentation)
 Project Initiation
• Determine Plant is Suitable Target
– Conduct Literature Review on Weed and
its Natural Enemies
• Taxonomy, Biology, Ecology, Distribution
– Demonstrate Economic / Scientific
Feasibility and Resolve Conflicts
 Seek Approval and Funding
• Seek Political Support from
Stakeholders
– Cattlemen’s Associations
– Water Management Districts
• Obtain Financial Support from Public
and Private Sectors
 Foreign Exploration
• Identify Native Range of Target
Weed
• Search for Natural Enemies in
Native Range
 Domestic Surveys
• Conduct Faunal Surveys of Weed
in Introduced Range
• Compile List of Arthropods and
Pathogens Attacking Weed In
Area of Introduction
 Ecological Studies on Weed
and Agents
• Study Ecology of Weed and Its
Relatives in Native Range
• Identify Natural Enemies and
Study Their Biologies and Host
Ranges
 Host Specificity Studies
• Conduct Host Range Tests of
Promising Natural Enemies in Country
of Origin
– Open Field Tests Preferable
• Study Host Specificity of Potential
Control Agents in Quarantine in
Country of Introduction
 Centrifugal Phylogenetic Method
(Wapshere 1974)

Target
Weed

Economic, Native Other Plant Species; same subgenus

and Endangered spp. Other Subgenera; same genus

Other Genera; same tribe

Plant Families of Economic/Aesthetic Value

Plants Attacked by Relatives of Bioagents

Redrawn from Rees et al. (1995)

 Screening Procedures
(Wapshere 1989)

TEST 1 Larval Feeding Test No-Choice: Close Confinement

+ -
NOT IN
HOST RANGE

TEST 2 Adult Oviposition Test #1 No-Choice: Close Confinement

+ -
NOT IN
HOST RANGE

TEST 3 Adult Oviposition Test #2 Multiple Choice: Loose Confinement

+ -
NOT IN
IN HOST HOST RANGE
RANGE
 Screening Procedures (cont’d)

• No Choice Tests
– Potted plants

– Cut foliage
 Screening Procedures (cont’d)

Stem Cage

Paired Test
 Multiple Choice Tests

Small Cages

Large Cages
 Seek Approval for Release
• Prepare and Submit Report to
Appropriate Regulatory Authorities
Requesting Release of Bioagent
• Options:
– Release Approved
– Additional Host Specificity Studies
– Request for Release Denied
 Rearing and Release
• If Release of Bioagent is Approved
by Regulatory Agencies:
– Import Bioagent and Eliminate
Parasitoids and Pathogens
– Mass Rear and Release Bioagent
 Evaluation of Effects
• Confirm Establishment of Bioagent
• Conduct Manipulative / Replicated
Field Experiments to Measure
Population Level Effect of
Bioagent on Target and
Non-Target Species
 Distribution of Bioagent
• Redistribute Bioagent from Site of
Establishment or Field Insectaries
• Collaborate with Public Agencies and
Volunteer Groups to Spread Bioagent
throughout infested area
For Additional Information on
Biologically Based Weed
Management, Go To:
http://biocontrol.ifas.ufl.edu