Survey for potential biological control agents for Myrica faya in the Azores and Madeira

Abstract

Myrica faya (firetree), an aggressive alien shrub or tree infesting Hawaiian forests, is native to the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. In 1984 Donald Gardner and Charles Hodges, plant pathologists, traveled to those regions in the North Atlantic Ocean to search for natural enemies (of M. faya) which could be utilized as biocontrol agents. The results of their study were published in a previous CPSU/UH technical report. A second exploratory trip, discussed in the present report, was conducted to the Azores and Madeira in 1987. Gardner and Hodges were accompanied by George Markin, an entomologist, to search for, collect, and return for testing potential biocontrol insects and disease agents. During the second trip, the previously discovered fungi were collected, as were several insect species. Of the fungi, Ramularia destructiva and Nectria sallisena were returned under permit to Hawai'i and Cryphonectria sp. was returned to North Carolina State University for further study. Of the more than 20 insect species found on M. faya, Phyllonorycter myricae, Carposina atlanticella, an unidentified geometrid, an unidentified shoot tip borer, and an unidentified staminate flower feeder were returned to quarantine in Hawai'i for further study.