Post-release monitoring of two biological control agents in North America
Lygodium microphyllum (Schizaeaceae) is a species of fern native to Australia, South-East Asia and East Africa and it is invasive in North America, in particular the state of Florida (US). It can invade ecologically sensitive environments, and have a negative impact on habitats, diminish functionality, and reduce biodiversity. Two biological control agents have successfully established on L. microphyllum in southern Florida: the mite Floracarus perrepae (Acari: Eriophyidae) and Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). During the research phase of the biological control programme, in laboratory studies, both biological control agents had a narrow (physiological) host range and were highly specific to L. microphyllum. Both biological control agents were released in 2008. Between July 2021 and August 2022, a post-release monitoring survey was conducted where native ferns which showed limited feeding/galling and/or oviposition during the host range testing, were the focus of the survey. Following an extensive survey, neither the biological control agents or evidence of presence or damage, indicative of each species, was observed on any of the non-target fern species, though it was observed on the target species. These results confirm the ecological/realised host range of the two biological control agents and validated the predicted physiological host ranges as observed during laboratory host range testing.
Sources
Aquino-Thomas J, Frank EM, Lake EC, Smith MC, Cortes AC, Crees L, Dray Jr. FA (2025) Post-release support of host range predictions for two Lygodium microphyllum biological control agents. Florida Entomologist 108(1), 20240050