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 Invasive Plant Research Laboratory: Fort Lauderdale, FL
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ARS Home Southeast Area Fort Lauderdale, Florida Invasive Plant Research Laboratory Research





- Smith, Melissa
- Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)

Research Project: **Location:
                            Invasive Plant Research Laboratory** Project Number: 6032-22000-013-122-R
                        
                        Project Type: Reimbursable Cooperative Agreement Start Date: Jul 1, 2023
                        
                        End Date: Jun 30, 2024 **Objective:**
                        
                        Objective 1: Complete biology studies and host range testing of Calomela intemerata. 
 
Objective 2: Write and submit TAG petition for C. intemerata if it is deemed sufficiently host specific and suitable for use in Florida. 
 
Objective 3:  Test the host range of Trichilogaster sp. by completing at least 50 species from the test plant list.
 
Objective 4: Complete temperature dependent development and fecundity studies for Trichilogaster sp.
 
Objective 5: Establish colonies of Macrobathra arrectella in containment labs in FL from established colonies at ABCL, Australia. **Approach:**
                        
                        Since the earleaf acacia project began with feasibility studies in 2015, significant progress has been made towards finding viable biological control agents. We have determined that earleaf acacia is a problematic invasive plant and is in the log phase of expansion, especially in southwest Florida. Foreign surveys for arthropod herbivores and pathogens have yielded several promising candidates, one of which will likely be petitioned for release to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the Biological Control of Weeds. Additional agents, after initial host-specificity screenings, have been established in colonies in Australia and will be transferred to the US for additional host range testing. 

The initial exploration and testing phase of the earleaf acacia project was funded through FWC cooperative agreements and is concluding. Continued support is needed to see these promising agents to fruition so that we have effective tools to help control the rapidly spreading earleaf acacia invasion. 

We will continue to obtain related species and test multiple candidates for their potential for biological control.


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