Biological Control Agents

Biological Control Agents

The following beneficial organisms were found and evaluated for biological control by current FuEDEI researchers and collaborating scientists at quarantine facilities in the destination country, where the organisms were eventually released in the field. Some organisms, especially those for Water hyacinth and Alligator weed, were redistributed in many countries of Central America, Africa and Asia. This list includes: the scientific name of the beneficial organism, the common name of the target pest, the year and country of the first release.

1- Agasicles hygrophila, Alligator weed, 1964, USA.
2- Aminothrips andersonii, Alligator weed, 1967, USA.
3- Orthogalumna terebrantis, Water hyacinth, 1968, USA.
4- Arcolla malloi, Alligator weed, 1971, USA.
5- Neochetina eichorniae, Water hyacinth, 1972, USA.
6- Neochetina bruchi, Water hyacinth, 1974, USA.
7- Niphograpta albiguttalis, Water hyacinth, 1977, USA.
8- Disonycha argentinensis, Alligator weed, 1980, Australia.
9- Xubida infusella, Water hyacinth, 1982, USA.
10- Neohydronomus affinis, Water lettuce, 1982, USA.
11- Heilipodus ventralis, Snakeweed, 1988, USA.
12- Ontherus sulcator, dung, 1992, USA.
13- Gromphas lacordairei, dung, 1992, USA.
14- Penthobruchus germaini, Parkinsonia, 1995, Australia.

15- Kneallhazia (=Thelohania) solenopsae, Fire ants, 1996, USA.
16- Evippe sp., Mesquite, 1998, Australia.
17- Prosopidopsilla flava, Mesquite, 1998, Australia.
18- Pseudacteon curvatus biotype Buenos Aires, Fire ants, 2000, USA.
19- Pseudacteon curvatus biotype Formosa, Fire ants, 2000, USA.
20- Pseudacteon tricuspis, Fire ants, 2003, USA.
21- Gratiana boliviana, Tropical soda apple, 2003, USA.
22- Pseudacteon litoralis, Fire ants, 2004, USA.
23- Pseudacteon obtusus, Fire ants, 2008, USA.
24- Megamelus scutellaris, Water hyacinth, 2010, USA.
25- Pseudacteon cultellatus, Fire ants, 2010, USA.
26- Eueupithecia cisplatensis, Parkinsonia, 2013, Australia.
27- Liothrips tractabilis, Pompom weed, 2013, South Africa.
28- Megamelus scutellaris, Water hyacinth, 2013, South Africa.