Biological control of cactaceae in South Africa

Paterson, Iain D; Klein, Hildegard; Muskett, Phillippa C; Griffith, Tamzin C; Mayonde, Samalesu; Mofokeng, Kedibone; Mnqeta, Zezethu; Venter, Nic

Title: Biological control of cactaceae in South Africa
Creator: Paterson, Iain D
Creator: Klein, Hildegard
Creator: Muskett, Phillippa C
Creator: Griffith, Tamzin C
Creator: Mayonde, Samalesu
Creator: Mofokeng, Kedibone
Creator: Mnqeta, Zezethu
Creator: Venter, Nic
Subject: To be catalogued
Date Issued: 2021
Date: 2021
Type: text
Type: article
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle}
Identifier: vital:71034
Identifier: xlink:href="https://hdl.handle.net/10520/ejc-ento_v29_n3_a4"
Description: Cactaceae are among the most problematic invasive alien plants in South Africa, posing serious negative consequences to agriculture and natural ecosystems. Fortunately, South Africa has a long and successful history of controlling cactus weeds using biological control (biocontrol). This paper reviews all the biocontrol programmes against invasive alien Cactaceae in South Africa, focusing on the decade since the last review published in 2011, up to, and including 2020. Biocontrol programmes against 16 target weeds are summarised, all of which rely on either the galling mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Pseudococcidae), or various species or intraspecific lineages of cochineal insects (Dactylopius spp., Dactylopiidae) as agents. New agents are being considered for the three target weed species, Opuntia elata Salm-Dyck, Opuntia megapotamica Arechav. and Trichocereus spachianus (Lem.) Riccob., while permission to release a new agent against Cylindropuntia pallida (Rose) F.M. Knuth has recently been granted. The biocontrol agent, Dactylopius opuntiae (Cockrell) ‘stricta’, which has been utilised for the successful control of Opuntia stricta Haw., has shown some promise as an agent against one of the worst cactus weeds in the country, the North Cape/Free State variety of Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck. Post-release monitoring and recent observations of the status of control for the 11 other cactus weeds, all of which have well-established agents, are provided. Taxonomic uncertainties and misidentifications of both target weeds and agents has been a constraint to biocontrol efforts, but this has been partially overcome through the use of genetic techniques. Biocontrol is particularly successful in controlling cactus weeds compared to most other taxonomic groups, and it is likely that past successes can be repeated with new target weeds. Mass-rearing and redistribution of agents are essential to gain the maximum possible benefit from cactus biocontrol agents, and recent increases in mass-rearing outputs have been beneficial.
Format: computer
Format: online resource
Format: application/pdf
Format: 1 online resource (22 pages)
Format: pdf
Publisher: Sabinet
Language: English
Relation: African Entomology
Relation: Paterson, I.D., Hoffmann, J.H., Klein, H., Neser, S., Mathenge, C.W. and Zimmermann, H.G., 2011. Biological control of cactaceae in South Africa. African Entomology, 19(1), pp.230-246
Relation: African Entomology volume 19 number 1 p. 230 2021 1021-3589
Rights: Publisher
Rights: Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the Sabinet Terms and Conditions Statement (https://www.sabinet.co.za/terms-conditions)
Rights: Closed Access

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