Life Histories and Host-Range Evaluation of Two Chrysomelid Beetles ( Zygogramma spp.) Released against Tithonia rotundifolia in South Africa

(Mill.) S.F. Blake (Asteraceae) is among the three species from Mexico that are invasive in South Africa. To curb its invasiveness and negative impact in South Africa, two chrysomelid beetles, (Stål) and (Stål), from Mexico were investigated as candidate biological control agents. The life histories...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Insects (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-03, Vol.13 (3), p.267
Main Authors: Mawela, Khethani V, Simelane, David O, Olckers, Terence
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural research
Asteraceae
Beetles
Biodiversity
Biological control
biology
Coleoptera
Cultivars
Eggs
fecundity
Helianthus
Helianthus annuus
Host specificity
Incubation
Invasiveness
Laboratories
Life cycle analysis
Longevity
Oviposition
Quarantine
Species
Sunflowers
Tithonia
Tithonia diversifolia
Tithonia rotundifolia
weed biocontrol
Zygogramma
Zygogramma piceicollis
Zygogramma signatipennis
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Summary:(Mill.) S.F. Blake (Asteraceae) is among the three species from Mexico that are invasive in South Africa. To curb its invasiveness and negative impact in South Africa, two chrysomelid beetles, (Stål) and (Stål), from Mexico were investigated as candidate biological control agents. The life histories and host ranges of these beetles were studied under laboratory conditions to determine their suitability for release. The two beetle species displayed very similar life histories, including a short pre-oviposition period (13-14 days), incubation period (4-5 days) and lifecycle (40-45 days). The longevity of and was 113 and 125 days, while their fecundities were 1146 and 1133 eggs per female, respectively. Feeding, oviposition and development of both beetle species were confined within the tribe Heliantheae, but showed a very strong preference for the invasive . The only non-target species that supported development to adulthood was the exotic weed (Hemsl.) A. Gray, itself a target for biocontrol. Although some sunflower ( L.) cultivars were partially utilized during host-specificity tests, none supported complete development, suggesting that both species are suitable for release in South Africa.
ISSN:2075-4450
2075-4450
DOI:10.3390/insects13030267