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Adult Rhizedra lutosa moth. (Photograph by P. Häfliger.) Archanara geminipuncta (Haworth) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
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... rhizome feeding noctuid moth Rhizedra lutosa (Fig. 5) was first reported in 1988 from New Jersey ( McCabe and Schweitzer, 1991). It was subsequently found in the Catskills in New York in 1991 (Mikkola and Lafontaine, 1994) and by 1999 was widespread in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, and as far west as Ohio (Tewksbury et al., 2002). This moth overwinters as eggs ...
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... The two species of Lasioptera most comparable to L. donacis (in terms of host plant type) are Lasioptera arundinis Schiner and Lasioptera hungarica Möhn, which both feed on fungal mycelia inside stems of common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.; both species are monophagous (Blossey, Schwarzlander, Hafliger, Casagrande, & Tewksbury, 2002;Rohrfristch, 1992Rohrfristch, , 1997. L. hungarica, which is adventive in North America has such high host fidelity that it can be used as a field marker to indicate the presence of invasive genotypes and hybrids, as it is not found on native P. australis (Saltonstall, Castillo, & Blossey, 2014). ...
... There is only one Phragmites species present in North America (P. australis), but there is a considerable body of knowledge associated with P. australis because of its worldwide distribution and invasiveness in northeastern North America (Blossey et al., 2002;Tewksbury, Casagrande, Blosssey, Häfliger, & Scwarzländer, 2002). We tested both the European ecotype from southern France and the Gulf Coast ecotype from Cameron County, Texas. ...
... The raspberry gall midge, Lasioptera rubi is a pest of commercial raspberries, but will attack other species of Rubus as well (Tastas-Duque & Sylven, 1989). Among grass hosts the only other Lasioptera species that have been characterised in detail comparable to L. donacis are L. hungarica and L. arundinis, which are both host-specific to P. australis in the field (Blossey et al., 2002;Rohfritsch, 1997;Saltonstall et al., 2014). The arundo leafminer L. donacis is expected to show similar monophagy, feeding and reproducing only on A. donax in the field. ...
The fundamental host range of the arundo leafminer, Lasioptera donacis a candidate agent for the invasive weed, Arundo donax was evaluated. L. donacis collects and inserts spores of a saprophytic fungus, Arthrinium arundinis, during oviposition. Larvae feed and develop in the decomposing leaf sheath channel tissue. Thirty-six closely related and economic grass species along with several key habitat associates were evaluated in no-choice tests. L. donacis and its associated saprophyte completed development only on A. donax, in concurrence with published reports from its native range in Mediterranean Europe. The arundo leafminer feeding leads to premature defoliation, constituting a different mode of attack on the host plant as compared to two previously released insects, the arundo wasp and arundo scale, which feed on shoot tips and rhizomes, respectively. Defoliation of A. donax is expected to increase light penetration into stands of A. donax which increases visibility for law enforcement, reduces the survival of cattle fever ticks, and enhance recovery of the native riparian vegetation along the Rio Grande and other habitats where this weed is invasive.
... flood waters, nutrient filtering, buffering, and recycling, as well as economic benefits in some regions. Riparian zones also support a diverse group of wildlife species, including migrating endangered species of birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and mammals (Blossey et al., 2002;Lafleur, 2008) and support rich, diverse, and often rare vegetation assemblies and are areas of high biodiversity. They are, thus, a critical habitat for the survival of a variety of species, many of which are of significant conservation value for the ecosystems. ...
... Riparian systems in the Platte River valley in Nebraska and elsewhere in the U.S. have been invaded by non-native plant species such as common reed, peach-leaf willow, and cottonwood that outcompete most of the native plants, change wetland hydrology, alter wildlife habitat, and increase fire danger (Blossey, 1999;Amsberry et al., 2000;Blossey et al., 2002;Mal and Narine, 2004;Knezevic et al., 2008). The state of Nebraska designated common reed as a noxious weed, legally defined as "a destructive or harmful pest." ...
Quantifying actual evapotranspiration (ETa) of riparian zones is important for more robust water balance analyses that will enable better planning, managing, and allocating of water resources as well as developing strategies to protect delicate riparian ecosystem functions. The ETa, sensible heat flux (H), net radiation (Rn), soil heat flux (G), meteorological variables (air temperature, Ta; incoming shortwave radiation, R s; wind speed, u3; relative humidity, RH; vapor pressure deficit, VPD; precipitation, etc.), and albedo were measured on an hourly time step, and leaf area index (LAI) and plant height were measured on a weekly basis for a common reed (Phragmites australis) dominated cottonwood (Populus deltoides) and peach-leaf willow (Salix amygdaloides) riparian plant community in 2009 and 2010 through extensive field campaigns conducted in the Platte River basin in central Nebraska. The two growing seasons were contrasted by warmer air temperatures, higher precipitation, and presence of flood water on the surface during the 2010 season. The seasonal variations of daily average ET a were mainly controlled by Rn and air temperature. In 2009, total ETa and precipitation were 679 mm and 280 mm, respectively, and the values were substantially greater in 2010 (982 mm and 508 mm, respectively). The seasonal daily ETa for the mixed plant community ranged from 0.5 to 8.5 mm d-1 with a seasonal average of 3.7 mm d-1 in 2009 and from 0.5 to 11 mm d-1 with a seasonal average of 5.5 mm d-1 in 2010. In 2010, ETa varied widely with meteorological conditions and in response to variations in phenology of the vegetation to flooding. In 2009, on a seasonal average basis, a total of 77% and 14% of the available energy was partitioned into ET a and H, respectively. In 2010, over 90% and -12% (negative due to flooding) of the available energy was partitioned into ETa and H, respectively. The research results presented here provide valuable ETa data and information for enhancing the understanding of the interactions between the surface/vegetation conditions and the surrounding microclimate and surface energy balance for mixed riparian vegetation. The results of this research should aid water managers and decision/policy makers in accounting for water use rates of phragmites-dominated cottonwood and peach-leaf willow riparian plant communities in water balance analyses to make better-informed water resources planning and management decisions. © 2013 American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers ISSN 2151-0032.
... It was confirmed that the natural enemy fauna is much richer in Europe than in North America, even though the latter included more than 20 species accidentally introduced from Europe ( Tewksbury et al., 2002). The scope for biological control now lies in possible agents from Europe, that are specific at the subspecies level or, more realistically, which prefer or are better adapted to the European subspecies than to the indigenous North American subspecies ( Blossey et al., 2002). The European subspecies retains its leaf sheaths in winter, while ssp. ...
The use of molecular techniques is rapidly growing as the tools have become more diverse and powerful, more widely available, and easier to implement. Molecular analyses are able to elucidate information about target weeds that is critical to improving control success, such as taxonomic clarification, evidence of hybridization and cryptic species, better development of test plant lists, population structure and origin of invasions. Similarly, molecular approaches can improve our knowledge of biological control agents, providing taxonomic clarity, identification of immature arthropods and fungal pathogens, and description of genetic variability in agents. Molecular tools also allow easier identification of host associations and provide a tool for post-release evaluation and tracking of agents. This review provides an overview of how to use molecular approaches in biological control of weeds, with the aim of assisting the adoption and facilitating fruitful collaboration between scientists studying the biology and ecology of agents and their targets and those with skills using molecular approaches. We describe the current molecular techniques relevant to classical biological control of weeds, instruct how to collect field materials for molecular analyses, and give recent examples of the use of molecular methods in biological control of weeds, with comments on the most appropriate methods for analysis of molecular data.
... Sabrosky (1958) reported the accidental introduction of L. similis into the United States in a shipment containing P. australis as packing material. Several species are now widespread and abundant in northeastern North America (Blossey et al., 2002; Tewksbury et al., 2002). Balme (2000) found L. similis Schiner infesting stems of exotic P. australis in stands throughout Rhode Island, but did not note any significant damage to the plants. ...
... Larval feeding causes an apical gall to form in infested shoots, which stunts stems and prevents panicle formation (Chvála et al., 1974). In Europe, stem attack rates vary among sites (2–40%), with little resulting loss of plant biomass (Schwarzländer and Häfliger, 2000), but in the United States infestation rates can reach 80% (Balme, 2000; Blossey et al., 2002.) Lipara species are common in the stems of P. australis in Europe where their galls prevent plants from flowering (Chvála et al., 1974). ...
Two exotic gall fly species infest stems of native and exotic Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel in northeastern North America. In this study, we determined the distribution of Lipara similis Schiner and L. rufitarsis Loew in native and exotic P. australis in Rhode Island. We also studied the within-stand distributions of each fly species and their effects on flowering of native and exotic P. australis. We collected stems from populations throughout southern Rhode Island and measured stem length and diameter, and percent flowering. Stems were then dissected to determine Lipara infestation. L. similis and L. rufitarsis were found throughout Rhode Island infesting both native and exotic P. australis, but their presence and abundance varied among sites. Within stands, L. similis infests the taller, thicker interior stems and L. rufitarsis infests the shorter, thinner exterior stems. Lipara similis reduces stem length by 6%; L. rufitarsis infestation reduces stem length by 37%. The flowering rate of uninfested stems is significantly lower in native P. australis stems than in exotic stems. Both Lipara species prevent infested stems from flowering. In adjacent stands of native and exotic P. australis, L. rufitarsis infests significantly more native stems than exotic stems, possibly further reducing the reproductive potential of the native plants relative to the exotic. Lipara species may play a role in facilitating the displacement of native P. australis by the exotic genotype.
... Land managers have been using a variety of methods to deal with phragmites in the northeastern U. S. Managers at National Wildlife Refuges have reported that spraying glyphosate during late growing season is effective, along with prescribed fire or mowing to remove the dead stalks; retreatment is often necessary (Blossey 2002b). ...
... Phragmites australis (hereafter Phragmites) is a species of wetland grass native to every continent but Antarctica (Blossey et al., 2002). An invasive Phragmites genotype, thought to have arrived with European settlement, has expanded its range across North America over the last 150 years-particularly the last few decades (Saltonstall, 2002). ...
... Large, nearly monospecific clonal stands of Phragmites are a common occurrence in tidal marshes of the Atlantic coast (Chambers et al., 1999). Phragmites population is increasing in the Midwest (Blossey et al., 2002) with many reports of dramatically increasing populations across the Great Lakes Basin (Marks et al., 1994;Galatowitsch et al., 1999;Wilcox et al., 2003). ...
... Although seed propagation may be important for colonization of new areas, (Blossey et al., 2002) in most cases once Phragmites is established in a wetland it propagates vegetatively (Chambers et al., 1999). Established plants form buds that grow into horizontal rhizomes during the summer. ...
Phragmites australis is a cosmopolitan clonal grass valued for its support of diversity-rich communities in its native range and feared for its devastating effects on native diversity where the species is introduced. Lack of successful control in North America resulted in the initiation of a biological control program. We used a combination of field surveys and common garden experiments in Europe to study life history and ecology of a chloropid fly, Platycephala planifrons, to assess its potential as a biological control agent. The fly is widely distributed (in non-flooded sites) throughout Eurasia but attack rates are generally low (mean 5–10%; max. 29%). Adults emerge in late June and may live for several months. Females lay eggs at the base of Ph. australis shoots. First instar larvae of this stem-feeding fly overwinter in dormant below-ground shoots of Ph. australis and rapidly complete development in early spring. Larval feeding destroys the growing meristem of the shoot causing premature wilting and 60–70% reductions in shoot biomass production. Early season attack and considerable impact suggest that Pl. planifrons could be a potent biocontrol agent, if it can escape suppression by natural enemies in the introduced range. However, the generally low attack rates in its native range and its dependence on dry sites appear to make the species a “second-choice” candidate for potential release in North America.
La conota, Panicum repens L., es una especie foránea de pasto que produce rizomas que ha convertido en ser una maleza invasora de ambientes terrestres, pantanosos y acuáticos en regiones tropicales y subtropicales en todo el mundo. Hasta hace un tiempo reciente, las estrategias para controlar conota en los EEUU eran enfocadas casi exclusivamente en los métodos mecánicos y químicos, solos o en combinación, con resultados variables. Un muestreo de los artrópodos y nematodos asociados corrientemente con esta planta en el Lago de Okeechobee, Florida, fue realizado como parte de un estudio de factibilidad para determinar si conota es una candidata apropiada para un programa de control biológico clásico. En general, especimenes de aproximadamente unos 4,000 artrópodos y unos 400 nematodos fueron recolectados. Muestras recolectadas pasando una red sobre vegetación mezclada, cortando la vegetación y tomando centros del suelo fueron dominados por representantes de artrópodos de los ordenes de Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, y Acari. Nematodos en el género Pratylenchus, que causan lesiones sobre tejido, fueron asociados regularmente con las raíces de conota. Ninguno de los organismos recolectados eran especialistas sobre conota. Aunque el control biológico clásico de la conota es factible basado sobre la magnitud de la infestación, las perdidas económicas, la resistencia hacia los métodos de control convencionales y el informe en la India de un posible enemigo natural especifico a esta planta, la posición botánica de este pasto maleza requiere una evaluación de riesgo económico formal antes de continuar con un programa de control biológico clásico.
