J.P. Cuda1, J.L. Gillmore1, J.C. Medal1,

and B. R. Garcete-Barrett2

1Entomology & Nematology Dept., Gainesville, FL 32611-0620 2Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, 80035-010

Apocnemidophorus pipitzi (Coleoptera:

Curculionidae), a New Candidate for

BioControl of Brazilian peppertree,

Schinus terebinthifolius (Anacardiaceae)

Acknowledgements

• Justin Bricker

• Lyle Buss

• Devon Donahue

• Kenia Duran-Aguirre

• Charles O‟ Brien

• Mary Wilson

• FWC

• SFWMD (Photo credit: Bryan Harry, NPS)

Outline

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Questions and Comments

TD

Outline

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Questions and Comments

TD

“ Bazillion PeppertreeSchinus howterribleyouvebeenforus ”

Galveston, Texas

. . . . Dan Clark, USFWS

Brazilian Peppertree (BP)

• ORIGIN- Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay

• US DISTRIBUTION-- Arizona, CaliforniaFlorida, Hawaii,Texas, Louisiana,Caribbean Islands

• DESCRIPTION-- Evergreen Shrub- Compound Leaves- Red Berries- Dioecious- Several „Varieties‟

Native Range of BP

Current Distribution of BP

Wunderlin & Hansen (2008), Wildland Weeds (2007)

Supports Other Invasive Pests

Diaprepes Weevilhttp://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus/S_R_B_W_TW4.htm

Redbanded Thripshttp://entnem.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures/orn/thrips/redbanded_thrips.htm#desc

Black IguanaJ. Jackson, FGCU

Public Health Threat

Reiskind et al. (2009)http://biology.clc.uc.edu/fankhauser/Animals/mosquitoes/Aedes_albopictus_P9071863.JPG

http://entoplp.okstate.edu/mosquito/images/aealboeggs4.jpg

Asian Tiger Mosquito

BP Pollen Causes Problems

Jarzen and Nelson (2008)

–“Nowhere in Brazil is [BP] invasive like it is in Florida . . .”

–“[BP] does not form pure dense stands in its native habitat . . . In most areas you really have to look for it . . .”

BP Not Invasive in Brazil

Campbell et al. (1980)

Southeastern Brazil

Growth Habit of BP

Everglades National Park

Photo Credit: D.C. Schmitz, FWC

Williams et al. (2005,2007)

West Coast (A)

East Coast (B)

Hybrids (A & B)

Punta Gorda

Miami

Brazil

Why is BP Invasive in Florida?

• Multiple Genotypes & Hybrid Vigor

Why is BP Invasive in Florida?

• Enemy Release Hypothesis (Williams 1954)

(or Escape from Natural Enemies)

– Native Specialist Enemies Strongly Control the Abundance and/or Distribution of Native Plants

– Escape from Specialist Enemies Key Contributor to Exotic Plant Success

– Enemy Escape Benefits Exotics

• Gain Competitive Advantage Over Native Plants That Have Natural Enemies

BP Targeted for BioControl

• Non-native Invasive Species

• Causes Severe Ecological Damage

• Toxic and Allergenic (Poison Ivy Family)

• Low Beneficial Value (Beekeepers?)

• Conventional Controls Temporary, Costly

• No Native Congeners in US !!!

Candidate BioControl Agents

Pseudophilothrips ichini *(Thy: Phlaeothripidae)

Heteroperreyia hubrichi(Hym: Pergidae)

* Recommended for Release, May 2007

Objective

• Continue Surveys in Native Range of

Brazilian Peppertree (Argentina, Brazil

and Paraguay) to Discover Promising

New Natural Enemies

• Investigate Biology and Host Range of

These Natural Enemies

Survey Trips to ParaguayMarch 2005

• GOAL- Establish CooperativeAgreements withLocal Scientists

Natural History Museum Asuncion, Paraguay

Survey Trips to ParaguayMarch- April 2006

Apocnemidophorus pipitzi (Faust) (Col: Curculionidae)

.

A. pipitzi Host Preferences

sect.

Pseudoduvaua

Lithrea

molle

terebinthifolius

fasciculatus

polygamus

latifolius

velutinus

kauselii

montanus

patagonicus

Schinus

sgen. Euschinus

sgen.

Duvaua

sect. Euduvaua

Tainarys, irregularly deformed leaf

C. hermicitae group, pit gall

C. rubra group, pit gall

C. rubra group, closed gall

Burckhardt (2004)

Apocnemidophorus weevils restricted to Schinus and Lithrea

(Note: Genus Lithrea not represented in US)

Outline

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Questions and Comments

TD

FBCL Containment FacilityMarch- April 2006

Weevil Exit Hole & Larval Tunnels

Wood (non-living)

Bark (non-living)Cambium (living)

Larval Feeding Tunnels

Colony Rearing

3 to 8 cm

Host Range Testing

Host Range Testing

Outline

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Questions and Comments

TD

Weevil Colony Production

*

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 F7

No

. A

du

lts

Generation

0

50

100

150

200

250

Jul '07 Aug '07 Sep '07 Oct '07 Nov '07 Dec '07 Jan '08 Feb '08 Mar '08 Apr '08 May '08 Jun '08

No

. A

du

lts

Months

3- 4 months

Life Cycle of A. pipitzi

Adult Emergence

*y = 0.249x + 0.3319

r2 = 0.9559

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Log

Ad

ult

Em

erg

en

ce H

ole

s

Stem Diameter (cm)

0

10

20

30

40

50

0.25 0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.75 0.85 0.95 1.05 1.15 1.25

Fre

qu

en

cy

Head Capsule Width (mm)

I

II

III

IV

V

Larval Instars

Adult Feeding PreferenceNo-Choice Test

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Le

af

Co

ns

um

pti

on

(c

m2)

Test Plant

Larval DevelopmentMultiple-Choice Tests

*Schinus terebinthifolius

Schinus polygamus

Conclusions

• Weevil A. pipitzi First Stem Borer of BP

Successfully Reared in Quarantine

• Field Surveys and Laboratory Studies on

Biology and Host Range Suggest it is

Schinus Specialist

• Petition for Field Release in Florida is in

Preparation

Brazilian Peppertree Management Plan

http://www.fleppc.org/Manage_Plans/schinus.pdf

• Revised Management

Plan Completed– April 2006

• 2nd Edition Available– In Print and On-Line:

Thank You

Go Gators!!

Outline

• Introduction

• Materials and Methods

• Results and Discussion

• Questions and Comments

TD