Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preference and Performance of the Polymorphic Flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema, on Selected, Weedy Lantana camara Varieties

  • Published:
BioControl Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The possible preference that the leaf-feeding flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema Jacoby (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), might have for different South African naturalized varieties of its host plant, Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), was studied under quarantine laboratory conditions. Studies included adult choice trials, larval no-choice trials and multi-generation no-choice trials using five L. camara varieties. Results indicated that A. extrema exhibited a degree of varietal preference under laboratory conditions. Variety 029 White Pink proved to be the most suitable host, although the other four tested varieties were able to support viable populations of A. extrema for three consecutive generations. Should A. extrema be released as biocontrol agent for L. camara in South Africa, all five of the tested varieties should be able to support viable populations of A. extrema in the field.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baars, J.-R. and S. Neser, 1999. Past and present initiatives on the biological control of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) in South Africa. In: T. Olckers and M.P. Hill (eds), Biological Control of Weeds in South Africa (1990–1998). Afr. Ent. Mem. No. 1: 21–33.

  • S. Broughton (1999) Evaluation of some insect species introduced for the biological control of Lantana camara L. in South-East Queensland, Australia University of Queensland Brisbane, Australia

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Broughton (2000) ArticleTitleReview and evaluation of lantana biocontrol programs Biol. Contr. 17 272–286 Occurrence Handle10.1006/bcon.1999.0793

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C.J. Cilliers (1982) An evaluation of the effects of imported insects on the weed Lantana camara L. in South Africa Rhodes University Grahamstown, South Africa

    Google Scholar 

  • C.J. Cilliers (1987) ArticleTitleThe evaluation of three insect natural enemies for the biological control of the weed Lantana camara L J. Ent. Soc. S. Afr. 50 15–34

    Google Scholar 

  • C.J. Cilliers S. Neser (1991) ArticleTitleBiological control of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) in South Africa Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 37 57–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawley, M.J., 1989a. Plant life-history and the success of weed biological control projects. In: E.S. Delfosse (ed.), Proceedings of the VII International Symposium of Biological Control of Weeds, Rome, Italy, 1988. Istituto Sperimentale per la Patologia Vegetale, Ministero dell’ Agricoltura e delle Foreste, Rome. pp. 17–26.

  • M.J. Crawley (1989b) ArticleTitleThe successes and failures of weed biocontrol using insects Biocontrol News Inf. 10 213–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Day, M.D. and S. Neser, 2000. Factors influencing the biological control of Lantana camara in Australia and South Africa. In: N.R. Spencer (ed.), Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds, July 4–14, 1999, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA. pp. 897–908.

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameGenStat for Windows (2000) Release 4.2 EditionNumber5 VSN International Ltd. Oxford, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • J.L. Graaf (1986) ArticleTitleLantana camara, the plant and some methods for its control S. Afr. Forestry J. March 26–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Harley, K.L.S., 1973. Biological control of Lantana in Australia. In: A.J. Wapshere (ed), Proceedings of the III International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Montpellier, France. Commonwealth Institute of Biological Control, Farnham Royal, UK. pp. 23–29.

  • K.L.S. Harley J.D. Kerr R.C. Kassulke (1979) ArticleTitleEffects in S.E. Queensland during 1967–72 of insects introduced to control Lantana camara in Australia Entomophaga 24 65–72

    Google Scholar 

  • W.H. Haseler (1966) ArticleTitleThe status of insects introduced for the biological control of weeds in Queensland J. Ent. Soc. Queensland 5 1–4

    Google Scholar 

  • P.B. McEvoy E.M. Coombs (1999) Why things bite back: unintended consequences of biological weed control P.A. Follet J.J. Duan (Eds) Nontarget Effects of Biological Control Kluwer Academic Publishers Boston, Dordrecht, London 167–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris, M.J., A.R. Wood and A. den Breeÿen, 1999. Plant pathogens and biological control of weeds in South Africa: a review of projects and progress during the last decade. In: T. Olckers and M.P Hill (eds), Biological Control of Weeds in South Africa (1990–1998). Afr. Ent. Mem. No. 1: 129–137.

  • Neser, S. and C.J. Cilliers, 1989. Work towards biological control of Lantana camara: Perspectives. In: E.S. Delfosse (ed.), Proceedings of the VII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. Rome, 1988. Istituto Sperimentale per la Patalogia Vegetale, Ministero dell ‘Agricoltura e delle Foreste, Rome, Italy. pp. 363–369.

  • R.W. Sanders (2001) ArticleTitleThe genera of Verbenaceae in the Southeastern United States Harvard Papers Bot. 5 303–358

    Google Scholar 

  • L.J. Scott G.H. Graham M. Hannan-Jones D.K. Yeates (1997) ArticleTitleDNA profiling resolves the limited importance of flower colour in defining varieties of Lantana camara Electrophoresis 18 1560–1563 Occurrence Handle10.1002/elps.1150180912 Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXmtF2mtrc%3D Occurrence Handle9378121

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, L.J., M.A. Hannan-Jones and G.C. Graham, 2002. Affinities of Lantana camara in the Australia-Pacific Region. In: H. Spafford Jacob, J. Dodd and J.H. Moore (eds), Proceedings of the Thirteenth Australian Weeds Conference. 8–13 September 2002, Perth, Western Australia. pp. 471–474.

  • Sheppard, A.W., 2002. Prioritising agents based on predicted efficacy: Beyond the lottery approach. In: H. Spafford Jacob and D.T. Briese (eds.), Improving the selection, testing and evaluation of weed biological control agents. Proceedings of the CRC for Australian Weed Management Biological Control of Weeds Symposium and Workshop. Perth, 2002. University of Western Australia, Australia. pp. 11–18.

  • A.W. Sheppard R. Hill R.A. DeClerck-Floate A. McClay T. Olckers P.C. Quimby SuffixJr. H.G. Zimmermann (2003) ArticleTitleA global review of risk-benefit-cost analysis for the introduction of classical biological control agents against weeds: a crisis in the making? Biocontrol News Inf. 24 IssueID4 91–108

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Simberloff P. Stiling (1996) ArticleTitleRisks of species introduced for biological control Biol. Conserv. 78 185–192 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(96)00027-4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G.W. Snedecor W.G. Cochran (1980) Statistical Methods Iowa State University Press USA

    Google Scholar 

  • J.J. Spies (1984) ArticleTitleA cytotaxonomic study of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae) from South Africa S. Afr. J. Bot. 3 231–250

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M.M. Traynier (1979) ArticleTitleLong-term changes in the oviposition behaviour of the cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, induced by contact with plants Physiol. Ent. 4 86–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban, A.J. and D.O. Simelane, 1999. Performance of a candidate biocontrol agent, Falconia intermedia (Hemiptera: Miridae), on selected biotypes of Lantana camara (Verbenaceae). In: J.B.J. van Rensburg and J. van den Berg (eds), Proceedings of the Twelfth Entomological Congress. 12–15 July 1999. Potchefstroom, South Africa. p. 120.

  • F.-H. Wan P. Harris (1997) ArticleTitleUse of risk analysis for screening weed biocontrol agents: Altica carduorum Guer. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from China as a biocontrol agent of Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. in North America Biocontrol Sci. Technol. 7 299–308

    Google Scholar 

  • H.E. Williams (2005) ArticleTitleThe potential impact of the trimorphic flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema, on a selected weedy variety of Lantana camara BioControl 50 647–655

    Google Scholar 

  • H.E. Williams C.N. Duckett (2005) ArticleTitleThe trimorphic flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema, not suitable for biocontrol of Lantana camara in Africa BioControl 50 657–683

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. ARC-Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X134, 0121, Queenswood, South Africa

    H. E. Williams

Authors
  1. H. E. Williams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. E. Williams.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Williams, H.E. Preference and Performance of the Polymorphic Flea-beetle, Alagoasa extrema, on Selected, Weedy Lantana camara Varieties. Biocontrol 51, 127–138 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-005-1516-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-005-1516-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation