Biological control of Miconia calvescens by phytophagous arthropods

Abstract

More than 60 species of arthropods were found associated with Miconia calvescens at two Brazilian sites in a one-year survey for potential biological control agents within the weed’s native range in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Fifty-one insect species were collected, a majority of them phytophagous. Among the sap and cell feeders were two whitefly, a thrips species Heliothrips sp.n. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), a psyllid Diclidophlebia sp. (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), an aphid species, and six species of leaf hoppers (five were species of Cicadellidae and one species of Flatidae). The psyllid and leaf hoppers appeared to warrant further evaluation, especially for their possible association with a lethal phytoplasm disease. Defoliators causing substantial damage included the leaf-roller Ategumia sp. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Druentia cf. inscita (Lepidoptera: Mimallonidae), a sawfly Atomacera petroa (Hymenoptera: Argidae), and the leaf-cutter ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa. Stem-boring insects were discovered in low numbers and included an Agrilus sp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) that may be capable of killing stems. An Apion sp. (Coleoptera: Brentidae) was found associated with inflorescences. These collections include many species not discovered in earlier surveys of miconia in Brazil and Costa Rica, suggesting that additional potential arthropod agents await discovery in areas not yet explored.