The USDA/ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory is a 21,000 sq. ft. facility comprised of offices, labs, and containment spaces facilitating investigations into the ecology and biological control of exotic weeds.
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Melaleuca quinquenervia is an invasive tree in Florida and the Caribbean. IPRL now has one more approved biological agent to control the invasive tree which is Lophodiplosis indentata. Close-up picture seen here.
Click picture for more information about the invasive Melaleuca tree.
Air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera, is a vine that is native to Asia and Africa. This rapidly growing invasive weed outcompetes native plants. IPRL now has two biological controls agents for this weed which control the leaf growth and bulbil development.
Click on picture for more information about Dioscorea bulbifera.
Pontederia Crassipes / Eichhornia crassipes (Waterhyacinth) is a highly invasive aquatic weed introduced from South America. This picture shows a close-up of two biological agents which are now controlling Waterhyacinth including using IPM control.
Click on picture for more information about how IPRL controls Waterhyancinth.
A close-up picture of the life cycle of one of the approved biological control agents targeting the highly invasive Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia). This insect, Pseudophilothrips ichini, is a species of thrips that was first released in Davie, Florida on July 16th, 2019.
Click picture for more information about the Brazilian Peppertree and the biological control agent.
