U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 Invasive Plant Research Laboratory: Fort Lauderdale, FL
 close



    Research

                    Research Projects
                                    Publications
                                    Collaborations
                                    News
                People

                    Staff Listing
                                    Careers


        


                    Outreach
                        Volunteer
                                    Outreach Activities 2019
                                    Outreach Activities 2020
                                    Outreach Activities 2022
                    K.I.N.D. GardenSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




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: 6032-22000-013-126-A
                        
                        Project Type: Cooperative Agreement Start Date: Nov 3, 2023
                        
                        End Date: May 30, 2024 **Objective:**
                        
                        This project aims to investigate the potential for inundative releases of M. scutellarisin south Florida:
1) Establish mass-rearing facilities for M. scutellaris.
2) Attempt frequent repetitive inundative releases of M. scutellaris at selected sites in south Florida.
3) Import M. scutellaris populations from South Africa and conduct inundative releases at separate sites to determine if establishment and control is dependent on the source population of the insects. **Approach:**
                        
                        Time Task
September 2023 – December 2023 Set up mass rearing facilities, optimize rearing protocols, select release sites (FWC).
Prepare report for first quarter. Possible travel to South Africa to transport M. scutellaris to USA.
January 2024 – March 2024 Maintain mass rearing facilities, pre-release surveys of sites, begin weekly releases. South African M. scutellaris population in quarantine for one generation.
April 2024 – June 2024 Maintain cultures and releases. Collect data monthly at release sites. Prepare mid-year report.
July 2024 – September 2024 Maintain cultures and releases. Collect data monthly at release sites.
October 2024 – December 2024 Maintain cultures and releases. Maintain data collection, and review data collected up to this point. Prepare end of year report.
January 2025 – March 2025 Maintain cultures and releases. Analyze and review data collected. Make decisions based on data, expand cultures if necessary or prioritize one population.
April 2025 – June 2025 Maintain cultures and releases. Explore options to begin releases at new sites. Investigate inundative releases integrated with herbicidal control. Prepare mid-year report.
July 2025 – September 2025 Investigate funding options for expansion or adjust strategies if necessary.


Return to top


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov