Herbivory by the biocontrol agent Lilioceris cheni suppresses propagule production and smothering ability of the invasive vine Dioscorea bulbifera

Publication date: Available online 13 December 2018Source: Biological ControlAuthor(s): Min B. Rayamajhi, Eric Rohrig, Jorge Leidi, Christopher Kerr, Eduardo Salcedo, Ryan Poffenberger, Melissa Smith, Ellen Lake, F. Allen Dray, Paul Pratt, Philip Tipping, Ted CenterAbstractExpanding populations of Dioscorea bulbifera, a trellising invasive vine of Afro-Asian provenance, have become widely established in the southeastern United States. Its clambering habit enables the weed to grow over, smother and displace native vegetation while producing vast quantities of vegetative propagules (bulbils) and reducing biodiversity of different ecosystems in Florida. A specialized foliage-feeding beetle, Lilioceris cheni from Nepal and China, has been released in USA for biological control of D. bulbifera. To determine the beetle’s potential to curb the vine’s ability to overtop native vegetation and to suppress propagule production, beetle restricted (insecticide treated) and unrestricted (beetle inoculated) sites were compared at five localities in Florida. Dioscorea bulbifera cover, L. cheni population density, and herbivore damage were documented at 6-week intervals, with bulbil density and biomass measured annually, for 5 years. Results from beetle unrestricted treatment revealed that high L. cheni feeding damage reduced vine cover over native vegetation, and decreased bulbil density and biomass. Spillover of L. cheni populations from beetle unrestricted into restricted treatment are...
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research