Biological Control of Mesquite (Prosopis Species) (Fabaceae) in South Africa

By C. Zachariades, J. Hoffmann, A. Roberts. 2011

89 citations recorded by the source corpus.

The biological control programme against Prosopis species (Fabaceae) (mesquite) in South Africa has reached a stage where the already-established agents, Algarobius prosopis (LeConte) and Neltumius arizonensis (Schaeffer) (both Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), are considered to be inadequate. Other potential agents have been identified, including nine beetle species, four moths and a gall midge. Of these, a straight-snouted weevil, Coelocephalapion gandolfoi Kissinger (Coleoptera: Brentidae: Apioninae), whose larvae attack seeds within green pods, is considered especially promising and has been subjected to host-range tests. The biology, ecology and host range of a flowerbud galler, Asphondylia prosopidis Cockerell (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), have also been investigated. Some pathogens have been considered, as either classical biological control agents or as mycoherbicides. Ongoing debates about the relative value and costs of the trees continue to hamper progress with the planned escalation of biological control. Recent assessments show that the costs of mesquite will soon outweigh the benefits in most situations, opening opportunities to clear additional agent species for release. The results of studies since 1999 on the established and the prospective agents on mesquite are reviewed, while considering the issues that need to be addressed to enable the biological control programme to proceed.

Subfields: Ecology, Forestry, Insect Science

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/cb4cc16bbdbdae2d40b45ab3652127e666b60b03

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Ecology

1. D. Richardson
2. D. L. Le Maître
3. Petr Pyšek
4. John R. U. Wilson

In Forestry

1. D. Richardson
2. Brian W. van Wilgen
3. D. L. Le Maître

In Insect Science

1. D. Richardson
2. Petr Pyšek
3. Jan Pergl
4. John R. U. Wilson
5. V. Jarošı́k
6. I. Kühn

Citations in the corpus

• The impact of invasive alien Prosopis species (mesquite) on native plants in different environments in South Africa. (2015, background): “Prosopis species are being managed by the Working for Water programme in South Africa, using mechanical and chemical and biological control (three seed-feeding beetle species) but with limited success in reducing the overall extent of invasions and their impacts (Zachariades et al., 2011; Van Wilgen”