ARS Search for Casuarina Biological Control Agents

The United States southern coastal areas are being ravaged by Australian pine species, inhibiting the growth of native plants. The three Australian pines belong to Casuarina species namely; C. equisetifolia locally known as “coastal she-oak”, C. glauca also named as “swamp she-oak,” and C. cunninghamiana, the“river she-oak”. A biological control strategy was conceived and the search started in the home of the pines, Australia. Investigators Matthew Purcell and Bradley Brown of the Agricultural Research Service Australian Biological Control Laboratory led the team who surveyed and conducted plant-DNA testing experiments. Potential biological control agents such as wasps, weevils, stemborers and others were studied and 12 candidates were selected. The seed-feeding wasp Bootanelleus orientalis, which feeds specifically on Australian pine and the defoliator moth Zauclophora pelodes seem to be the best candidates. These insects will be further studied for use as biological control agents in the U.S. 

See details of the news at: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080902.htm. For further information see also: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/sep08/pine0908.htm