1.What major problem or issue is being resolved and how are you resolving it?
Melaleuca quinquenervia, the Australian broad-leaved paperbark tree, and Lygodium microphyllum, Old World climbing fern, were introduced into Florida where they have become invasive weeds disturbing the ecology and hydrology of wetlands in South Florida and the Everglades. Both invasive plant species are native to the coastal swamps and wetlands of Eastern Australia. This project funds work at the Australian Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL). At ABCL, our research is focused on field exploration and evaluation of insects and pathogens of the Australian broad-leaved paperbark tree, and Old World climbing fern, for possible introduction into the United States as biological control agents.

2.How serious is the problem? Why does it matter?
The paperbark tree was introduced into Florida in the United States at the beginning of this century. In the last 30-40 years M. quinquenervia has greatly expanded its range in southern Florida where it now infests over 500,000 acres causing extensive environmental and economic damage. Trees, which can grow to 30 m in height, flower and seed prolifically and form dense forests, which displace native plants and animals. Old World climbing fern, L. microphyllum has recently been listed as a Federal noxious weed. The vine climbs high into trees and over shrubs, smothering whole plant communities. Its distribution is rapidly expanding in central and south Florida including pine plantations, citrus groves, bald cypress swamps, wet prairies, saw-grass marshes and Everglade tree islands. It now covers more than 130,000 acres

3.How does it relate to the national Program(s) and National Program Component(s) to which it has been assigned?
This research is closely aligned with the USDA Strategic Plan for Invasive and Noxious Weeds. It is part of National Program 304, Crop Protection and Quarantine (80 percent) as well as the Water Quality and Water Management National Program 201 (20 percent). In these programs, the Agency is emphasizing integrated pest management, of which biological control is a major component.

4.What was your most significant accomplishment this past year?
A) We have discovered that Floracarus perrepae an eriophyid mite agent being evaluated for the climbing fern Lygodium microphyllum is actually a complex of host races. We are screening the multiple geographic host races from New Caledonia, Thailand, China and India to determine which will be the most effective agains the invasive Florida genotype of the fern Impact: Three host races, Australia, China and New Caledonia have been determined to be poor performers against the Florida genotype of the fern. Additional genotypes will be tested that may prove to be effective against the invasive genotype.

B) A bud feeding weevil and unique stem-galling fly were discovered this year. The stem-galler is in culture and host range testing is underway. Impact: The bud feeding weevil attacks the melaleuca tree in a completely different manner than the known suite of herbivores. By feeding on dormant buds it will potentially minimize production of new growth and flower/seed production. The stem galler is likely to be host specific and prefers younger plants which can be numerous in the Everglades following dry periods, which favor survival of seedlings. In summary, new agents with highly desirable modes of attack have been discovered in Australia.

5.Describe your major accomplishments over the life of the project, including their predicted or actual impact?
Over 450 insect species, which feed on M. quinquenervia, have been collected by USDA-ARS Australian Biological Control Laboratory in Queensland and northern New South Wales. The melaleuca weevil, Oxyops vitiosa, released in late 1997 and the sap-sucking psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae in 2002, are well established in Florida and spreading rapidly from all release sites. An ARS area-wide management program is underway to extend the success of the weevil to all infested areas. Quarantine studies have been completed for on three additional insects, a defoliating sawfly, Lophyrotoma zonalis;,; the melaleuca bud-gall fly, Fergusonina sp. and all are likely to be permitted for release. The tube-dwelling moth, Poliopaschia lithochlora will be shipped to stateside cooperators in November 2002. Laboratory and field studies in Australia are now concentrating on three new potential agents; the flower feeding moth complex, Holocola spp., bud feeding weevil, stemg-galling fly and the trunk-boring cerambycid.

The research program in Australia is linked directly with ARS research in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Jointly, we are discovering and evaluating biological control agents for M. quinquenervia, Lygodium microphyllum and other invasive noxious weeds of the Florida Everglades. Without long term sustainable biological control based management of Melaleuca and Lygodium, large parts of the Everglades and South Florida would be permanently degraded causing tremendous loss of native species, with less available water to agriculture and the cities. Our research supports the South Florida ecosystem restoration and is expected to maintain sustainable agricultural production and improve environmental quality.

6.What do you expect to accomplish, year by year, over the next 3 years?
Exploration for additional biological control agents of M. quinquenervia will continue into previously unexplored areas of Australia. Field surveys will be directed into habitats that more closely match the permanently flooded sites of the Florida Everglades. Exploration will also begin the cooler more temperate areas in southern range of M. quinquenervia in New South Wales. Rearing methods for agents with complex or lengthy developmental cycles (ie. borers, flower feeders), that also have excellent potential as agents, will be developed.

Yr. 1. Exploration for new agents for M. quinquenervia in northern New South Wales. Colonize the tip binding moth, Poliopaschia lithochlora for shipment to US quarantine facilities. Impact/Outcome: New agents with highly destructive biologies will be identified for evaluation. The tip binding moth will proceed to next stage in its development as a biological control agent.

Yr. 2. Rearing methods will be developed for the melaleuca bud weevil. Preliminary host range testing of stem-galling cecid fly will be completed. Impact/Outcome: Successful laboratory rearing of the bud weevil will allow for preliminary host range testing and evaluation of its biology. Stem-galling cecid to be shipped to US quarantine facilities for final testing if it shown to have a narrow host range.

Yr. 3. Rearing methods will be developed for the melaleuca borer. Host range testing to begin on melaleuca bud weevil. Impact/Outcome: Successful laboratory rearing of melaleuca borer will allow for preliminary host range testing and evaluation of its biology. Bud weevil to be shipped to US quarantine facilities for final testing if it shown to have a narrow host range.

This overall goal of the research is to find and test additional agents, which target specific weak links in the biology of M. quinquenervia in Florida. Specifically, agents that suppress or eliminate seed production will be prioritized for investigation. In year 3 of the program shifts towards insects that target older mature trees. The overall Impact/Outcome is to slow the spread of this noxious weed and reduce its competitiveness with the native vegetation.

The biological control program directed against Lygodium microphyllum, Old World climbing fern should be near completion of the initial exploration phase for natural enemies. Several herbivores should be in the final stages of host range testing. We will attempt to complete all, or most the host range testing for the phytophagous mite, Floracarus perrepae in Australia since it is so difficult to rear and contain a small mite in a quarantine.

Yr. 1. Exploration for new agents will be conducted in India, New Caledonia and Palau. Preliminary host range testing of New Caledonian pyraustine moth will be conducted. Assesment of the multiple geographic based genotypes of the herbivore mite, Floracarus perrepae will be finished. Impact/Outcome: New agents for the climbing fern will be discovered in India and New Caledonia, a known Lygodium feeding weevil will be recollected and investigated in Palau. New Caledonian moth will be shipped to US quarantine facilities for final testing if it shown to have a narrow host range. Screening of the multiple mite genotypes will identify the type best suited to attack the invasive Florida form of L. microphyllum.

Yr. 2. Exploration for new agents will be conducted in India, New Caledonia, New Guinea. Host range testing of the best adapted Floracarus mite genotype will begin. Laboratory rearing methods for the Lygodium borer will be developed. Impact/Outcome: New agents for the climbing fern will be discovered in India, New Caledonia and New Guinea. Host range testing of the mite will be at least 50% finished. Preliminary host range testing of the Lygodium borer will begin.

Yr. 3. Exploration for new agents will be conducted in India, Sumatra and South Africa. Host range testing of the Floracarus mite will continue. What science and/or technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the science and/or technology likely to become available to the end user? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption and durability of the technology products? Impact/Outcome: New agents for the climbing fern will be discovered in India, New Caledonia and New Guinea. Host range testing of the mite will be finished. A petition for release of mite will be submitted assuming it is narrowly specific. The Lygodium borer will be shipped to US quarantine facilities for final host range testing.

7.What technologies have been transferred and to whom? When is the technology likely to become available to the end user (industry, farmer other scientist)? What are the constraints, if known, to the adoption durability of the technology?
Biological control agents of M. quinquenervia, highly specific herbivorous insects, have been identified through field exploration and transferred to ARS scientists in Florida for field application. Additional agents are being identified for both M. quinquenervia and L. microphyllum. A leaf-feeding weevil, Oxyops vitiosa and the sap-sucking psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae in 2002 have been field released and the weevil is now the key agent in an area-wide weed suppression program in Florida. Quarantine studies have been completed on four additional insects, a defoliating sawfly, Lophyrotoma zonalis; the melaleuca bud-gall fly, Fergusonina sp. and all are likely to be permitted for release. Twenty species of insects and one mite have been identified for biological control of L. microphyllum. Host range testing of a leaf defoliating pyralid moths, Cataclysta camptozonale and Neomusotima conspurcatalis, have been completed and a petition for their release will be submitted in 2003. A third agent the Floracarus mite has been shown in field studies to be highly effective against the fern. The genotype of the mite best suited for the Florida form of the fern will be identified, imported to Brisbane quarantine facilities and full host range testing will be conducted.

A solid conceptual framework for determining the physiological host range of a biological control agent allows us to accurately predict the field host range of the introduced insect or pathogen. However, as with any biological control agent, predicting the efficacy in its introduced range is difficult but strongly emphasized at ABCL. The adoption of a biological control strategy for management of M. quinquenervia and L. microphyllum is highly likely if the agents prove to be effective in the field. Revegetation efforts will be required to replace the exotic weeds with native plant species. The durability of the technology is excellent given that the agents reproduce indefinitely in their new environment.

8.List your most important publications and presentations, and articles written about your work (NOTE: this does not replace your review publications which are listed below)
Goolsby, J.A. 2002. Biocontrol agents for paperbark trees in Florida. Newsletter of the Hut Environmental Community Association Inc. 4: 9-12. (Popular Publication).

Review Publications
Rayachhetry, M.B., T. K. Van, T.D. Center, J.A. Goolsby, P.D. Pratt, & A. Racelis. 2002. Biological attributes of the canopy-held melaleuca seeds in Australia and Florida, US. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 40