02168nas a2200181   4500008004100000020001400041245011300055210006900168260001100237300001200248490000700260520151100267653002501778100001701803700001601820700001801836856013201854       2011                        eng d  a1021-358900aBiological control of dense-thorned bitter apple, Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam. (Solanaceae), in South Africa0 aBiological control of densethorned bitter apple Solanum sisymbri  cAugust  a427-4330 v193 aSolanum sisymbriifolium Lam. is a weed of disturbed areas in South Africa, particularly in the high-elevation summer rainfall areas of the country. Despite the introduction of the South American leaf-feeding tortoise beetle, Gratiana spadicea (Klug) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) in 1994, the weed has continued to spread. Although established in a number of regions, beetle populations appear to persist in relatively low numbers, inflicting minimal damage to the weed. Consequently, a number of variables have been investigated in order to explain this lack of efficacy, and in some cases, failure to establish. Gratiana spadicea populations in South Africa are under considerable stress both from abiotic and biotic sources. Population-limiting factors such as disturbance of overwintering sites, climatic incompatibility, and high rates of pupal parasitism translate into low numbers of the agent at the start of each growing season. Small early-season populations which are slow to build-up, coupled with asynchronous development of S. sisymbriifolium, limit the beetles' effective-ness and pre-empt any impact on the weeds' reproductive output. Consequently, G. spadicea alone is unlikely to control S. sisymbriifolium infestations in South Africa. The flower-feeding weevil Anthonomus sisymbrii Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Anthonominae), may therefore warrant study as it could have the potential, if released, to curtail fruit production and further spread of S. sisymbriifolium.10aAnthonomus sisymbrii1 aKing, A., M.1 aBrudvig, R.1 aByrne, M., J.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/biological-control-dense-thorned-bitter-apple-solanum-sisymbriifolium-lam-solanaceae-south-africa02383nas a2200181   4500008004100000020001400041245011800055210006900173260001100242300001200253490000700265520171500272653002501987100001702012700002102029700001902050856013202069       2011                        eng d  a1021-358900aBiological control of cat's claw creeper, Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H. Gentry (Bignoniaceae), in South Africa0 aBiological control of cats claw creeper Macfadyena unguiscati L   cAugust  a366-3770 v193 aThe exotic vine Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A.H.Gentry (Bignoniaceae), cat's claw creeper, has become a significant threat to the biodiversity of a variety of sensitive ecosystems in South Africa. Owing to the nature of the infestations, as well as the difficulties and prohibitive costs associated with both mechanical and chemical controls, biological control is considered to be the most practical and sustainable means of successfully managing the weed in South Africa. The biological control programme against M. unguis-cati was initiated in 1996 and resulted in the release of Charidotis auroguttata Boheman (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae). Despite repeated releases, initial rates of establishment were low. Where successfully established, populations of the beetle have been slow to build-up, leading to only limited impact on the weed. Prompted by this lack of success, as well as the high potential for further spread of the weed, additional natural enemies were sought. Two lace bugs, Carvalhotingis visenda Drake&Hambleton, and Carvalhotingis hollandi Drake (Hemiptera: Tingidae), a leaf-mining beetle Hylaeogena (Hedwigiella) jureceki Obenberger (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), a leaf-tying moth Hypocosmia pyrochroma Jones (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and a seed-feeding weevil Apteromechus notatus (Hustache) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were subsequently imported into quarantine in South Africa for host-specificity testing. With the exception of A. notatus, all have been approved for release and are exhibiting promising initial rates of establishment and damage at a number of field localities. Impact studies have shown that cat's claw creeper is susceptible to sustained herbivore pressure.10aApteromechus notatus1 aKing, A., M.1 aWilliams, H., E.1 aMadire, L., G.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/biological-control-cats-claw-creeper-macfadyena-unguis-cati-l-ah-gentry-bignoniaceae-south-africa02410nas a2200181   4500008004100000020001400041245009400055210006900149260001100218300001200229490000700241520178700248653002702035100001902062700001602081700002302097856010802120       2011                        eng d  a1021-358900aProspects for the biological control of invasive Pinus species (Pinaceae) in South Africa0 aProspects for the biological control of invasive Pinus species P  cAugust  a393-4010 v193 aNine Pinus species (Pinaceae) have become invasive plants in South Africa after being deliberately introduced and cultivated in commercial forests, for timber. A proposal to use biological control to contain the problem raised concerns among foresters who immediately identified a number of difficulties that could arise for the forestry industry if biological control agents were to be introduced. As a compromise, plans were made to target, initially at least, two pine species, Pinus pinaster Aiton and Pinus halepensis Mill., that currently have no commercial value. A cone-feeding weevil from Portugal, Pissodes validirostris Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), was identified as the most promising agent. Formerly regarded as a single species, extensive preparatory studies revealed that there are several different forms (perhaps a complex of sibling species) of P. validirostris each associated with different pine species in different regions of Europe. Screening tests in arboreta in France showed that the prospective agent was host-specific enough to be used with safety in South Africa. Despite this positive finding, the programme did not proceed much further because subsequent trials in quarantine in South Africa showed that damage caused by the adult weevils feeding on leader shoots of pines allowed ingress of pitch canker, Fusarium circinatum Nirenberg and O'Donnell (Hypocreales: Nectriaceae), an increasingly problematic pathogen in pine forests in South Africa. However, given the escalating negative consequences of pine tree invasions, especially in the Cape Floral Region, the question of whether or not this biological control programme should have been discontinued in 2009 remains open for debate and the opposing views on the subject are presented.10aPissodes validirostris1 aHoffmann, J.H.1 aMoran, V.C.1 avan Wilgen, B., W.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/prospects-biological-control-invasive-pinus-species-pinaceae-south-africa02293nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245012000055210006900175260001100244300001200255490000700267520166100274653002201935100001901957700001501976856013201991       2011                        eng d  a1021-358900aBiological control of Hakea sericea Schrad. & J.C. Wendl. and Hakea gibbosa (Sm.) Cav. (Proteaceae) in South Africa0 aBiological control of Hakea sericea Schrad JC Wendl and Hakea gi  cAugust  a303-3140 v193 aHakea sericea Schrad.&J.C.Wendl. and Hakea gibbosa (Sm.) Cav. (Proteaceae), are small trees or shrubs that originate from Australia. Hakea sericea has become highly invasive and problematic in South Africa while H. gibbosa is less widespread and abundant but nevertheless problematic. Biological control against H. sericea started in 1970 with the release of two seed-attacking insects, a seed-feeding weevil, Erytenna consputa Pascoe (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and a seed-moth, Carposina autologa Meyrick (Lepidoptera: Carposinidae). Both of these agents, together with an indigenous fungus, Colletotrichum acutatum J.H. Simmonds f.sp. hakeae Lubbe, Denman, P.F. Cannon, J.Z. Groenew., Lampr.&Crous (Incertae sedis: Glomerellaceae), and manual clearing have reduced the abundance, and possibly the invasiveness, of H. sericea, but large infestations still persist in the coastal mountains of the Cape Floral Region in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa. The release in 1979 of a weevil, Cydmaea binotata Lea (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), which bores in the terminal shoots and young needles of H. sericea has had a negligible effect. To enhance the levels of biological control, two new agents, a stem-boring beetle, Aphanasium australe (Boisduval) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and a flowerbud feeder, Dicomada rufa Blackburn (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), were released in 2001 and 2006, respectively. The focus in this review is on progress since 1999 with the biological control and management of H. sericea. Releases of E. consputa and A. australe on H. gibbosa have met with limited success, the reasons for which are also reviewed.10aErytenna consputa1 aGordon, A., J.1 aFourie, A.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/biological-control-hakea-sericea-schrad-jc-wendl-and-hakea-gibbosa-sm-cav-proteaceae-south-africa01541nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245024500055210006900300260001000369300001000379490000700389520078400396653002601180100001301206700001701219856013501236       2009                        eng d  a1021-358900aQuantitative post-release evaluation of biological control of floating fern, Salvinia molesta D.S. Mitchell (Salviniaceae), with Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on the Senegal River and Senegal River delta0 aQuantitative postrelease evaluation of biological control of flo  cMarch  a64-700 v173 aThe floating aquatic fern, Salvinia molesta D.S Mitchell (Salviniaceae) was first recorded in Senegal in 1999 and by 2000 it covered an estimated area of 18 000 ha on the Senegal River Left Bank and tributaries (Senegal) and 7840 ha on the Senegal River Right Bank (Mauritania). The weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae Calder and Sands (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was considered the best option for control and some 48 953 weevils were released at 270 sites during 2002. Within one year, weevils had established and were recovered up to 50 km from the release sites. At most of the release sites, the S. molesta infestation was reduced from 100 % to less than 5 % within 24 months of release. These results are discussed in the context of the weed's negative impact on aquatic systems.10aCyrtobagous salviniae1 aDiop, O.1 aHill, M., P.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/quantitative-post-release-evaluation-biological-control-floating-fern-salvinia-molesta-ds-mitchell-s01712nas a2200169   4500008004100000020001400041245015400055210006900209260001400278300001200292490000700304520103800311653002301349100001701372700001801389856013501407       2010                        eng d  a1021-358900aEffect of four mid-altitude maize varieties on oviposition, development and sex ratio of Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)0 aEffect of four midaltitude maize varieties on oviposition develo  cSeptember  a253-2580 v183 aInsects are the principal pests of maize in storage. The maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky), is of prime concern to farmers in the western highlands of Cameroon. Chemical insecticides for its control are costly and not readily available in Cameroon, hence the need for other non-chemical alternatives. Laboratory studies were carried out on the developmental biology of S. zeamais on four commonly cultivated mid-altitude maize varieties : KASAI, ATP, COCA-SR and ACR98TZEMSR-W. These varieties significantly influenced S. zeamais oviposition, development and emerged F1 progeny and grain weight loss. Duration of weevil development was significantly longer on COCA-SR and ATP than on the two other maize varieties. A significantly lower number of F1 progeny emerged from COCA-SR and ATP. Mean grain weight loss was lowest in COCA-SR and was correlated with duration of development. The reproductive potential of S. zeamais was significantly different on the four maize varieties, COCA-SR being the least favourable host.10aSitophilus zeamais1 aAkob, C., A.1 aEwete, F., K.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/effect-four-mid-altitude-maize-varieties-oviposition-development-and-sex-ratio-sitophilus-zeamais-mo