Research Project: Management of Invasive Weeds in Rangeland, Forest and Riparian Ecosystems in the Far Western U.S. Using Biological Control

Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health

Publications (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)

Is biological control of weeds conservation’s blind spot? - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Cabrera Walsh, G., Sosa, A.J., Mc Kay, F., Maestro, M., Hill, M., Hinz, H., Paynter, Q., Pratt, P.D., Raghu, S., Shaw, R., Tipping, P.W., Winston, R.L. 2023. Is biological control of weeds conservation’s blind spot? Quarterly Review of Biology. 98(1):1-28.

International live insect trade – insights and issues - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Seedling maturation drives spatial variability in demographic dynamics of an invader with multiple introductions: insights from an LTRE analysis - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Erickson, K., Pratt, P.D., Rayamajhi, M.B., Horvitz, C. 2020. Seedling maturation drives spatial variability in demographic dynamics of an invader with multiple introductions: insights from an LTRE analysis. Biological Invasions. 22:2185-2203. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02249-x.

Establishment, hybridization, dispersal, impact, and decline of Diorhabda spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) released for biological control of tamarisk in Texas and New Mexico - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Knutson, A.E., Tracy, J.L., Ritzi, C., Moran, P.J., Royer, T., De Loach, C.J. 2019. Establishment, hybridization, dispersal, impact, and decline of Diorhabda spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) released for biological control of tamarisk in Texas and New Mexico. Environmental Entomology. 48:1297-1316.

Three prospective agents instead of one? Cryptic diversity of the biological control agent Psylliodes chalcomera - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
De Biase, A., Smith, L., Brunetti, M., Belvedere, S., Primerano, S., Antonini, G., La Marca, A., Audisio, P., Biondi, M., Cristofaro, M. 2019. Three prospective agents instead of one? Cryptic diversity of the biological control agent Psylliodes chalcomera. Biological Control. 136:103998. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2019.103998.

Management of invasive water hyacinth as both a nuisance weed and invertebrate habitat - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Donley Marineau, E.E., Perryman, M., Lawler, S.P., Hartman, R.K., Pratt, P.D. 2019. Management of invasive water hyacinth as both a nuisance weed and invertebrate habitat. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science. 17(2):1-19. https://doi.org/10.15447/sfews.2019v17iss2art5.

Relative performance and impacts of the psyllid Arytinnis hakani (Hemiptera:psyllidae) on nontarget plants and the target weed Genista monspessulana (Fabales:fabaceae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hogg, B.N., Moran, P.J., Smith, L. 2019. Relative performance and impacts of the psyllid Arytinnis hakani (Hemiptera:psyllidae) on nontarget plants and the target weed Genista monspessulana (Fabales:fabaceae). Environmental Entomology. 48(3):524-532.

Impact in quarantine of the galling weevil Lepidapion argentatum on shoot growth of French broom (Genista monspessulana), an invasive weed in the western U.S - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Bitume, E.V., Moran, P.J., Sforza, R. 2019. Impact in quarantine of the galling weevil Lepidapion argentatum on shoot growth of French broom (Genista monspessulana), an invasive weed in the western U.S. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 29(7):615-625. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2019.1573417.

The influence of plant size on attack rates of Oxyops vitiosa, an introduced herbivore of Melaleuca quinquenervia - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Tofangazi, N., Pratt, P.D., Rayamajhi, M.B., Tipping, P.W. 2019. The influence of plant size on attack rates of Oxyops vitiosa, an introduced herbivore of Melaleuca quinquenervia. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 29(6):610-613. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2019.1573416.

Invasion of the gall mite Aceria genistae (Acari: Eriophyidae), a natural enemy of the invasive weed Cytisus scoparius, into California, U.S.A. and predictions for climate suitability in other regions - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Pratt, P.D., Pitcairn, M.J., Oneto, S., Beaulieu, F., Sodergren, C., Michael, K.B., Knee, W., Andreas, J. 2019. Invasion of the gall mite Aceria genistae (Acari: Eriophyidae), a natural enemy of the invasive weed Cytisus scoparius, into California, U.S.A. and predictions for climate suitability in other regions. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 29(5):494-513. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2019.1566440.

Modeling pesticide fate and transport at watershed scale using the soil & water assessment tool: general applications and mitigation strategies - (Book / Chapter)
Wang, R., Chen, H., Luo, Y., Yen, H., Arnold, J.G., Bubenheim, D., Moran, P.J., Zhang, M. 2019. Modeling pesticide fate and transport at watershed scale using the soil & water assessment tool: general applications and mitigation strategies. In: Goh, K.S., Gan, J., Young, D.F., Luo, Y., editors. Pesticides in Surface Water: Monitoring, Modeling, Risk Assessment, and Management. Washington, DC: ACS Publications. p. 391-419. https://doi.org/10.1021/bk-2019-1308.ch020.

The reproductive biology of Oxyops vitiosa Pascoe, 1870 (Colepotera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Pratt, P.D., Grodowitz, M.J., Center, T.D., Rayamajhi, M.B. 2018. The reproductive biology of Oxyops vitiosa Pascoe, 1870 (Colepotera: Curculionidae), a biological control agent of the invasive tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae). Pan Pacific Entomology. 94(3):117-129. https://doi.org/10.3956/2018-94.3.117.

Advancing biological control of the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus) – new strategies in a 100 year struggle to manage a costly pest in the Northern Great Plains - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Portman, S.L., Jaronski, S., Weaver, D.K., Reddy, G.V. 2018. Advancing biological control of the wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus) – new strategies in a 100 year struggle to manage a costly pest in the Northern Great Plains. Biological Control. 111(3):85-91. https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/say002.

Tolerance of the eriophyid mite Aceria salsola to UV-A light and implications for biological control of Russian thistle - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Moran, P.J., Wibawa, M.I., Smith, L. 2017. Tolerance of the eriophyid mite Aceria salsola to UV-A light and implications for biological control of Russian thistle. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 73(3-4):327-338. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-017-0205-z.

Invasive aquatic vegetation management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: status recommendations - (Literature Review)
Ta, J., Anderson, L.W., Christman, M.A., Khanna, S., Kratville, D., Madsen, J.D., Moran, P.J., Viers, J.H. 2017. Invasive aquatic vegetation management in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: status recommendations. San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science. 15(4) Retrieved from https://escholarship.org/uc/item/828355w6. doi: 10.15447/sfews.2017v15iss4art5.

Hybridization affects life-history traits and host specificity in Diorhabda spp - (Peer Reviewed Journal)

Spatial and temporal variation of biological control agents associated with Eichhornia crassipes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hopper, J.V., Pratt, P.D., McCue, K.F., Pitcairn, M.J., Moran, P.J., Madsen, J.D. 2017. Spatial and temporal variation of biological control agents associated with Eichhornia crassipes in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California. Biological Control. 111:13-22. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2017.05.005.

Introduction history influences aboveground biomass allocation in Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Erickson, K., Pratt, P.D., Rayamajhi, M.B., Horvitz, C. 2017. Introduction history influences aboveground biomass allocation in Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius). Invasive Plant Science and Management. 10(3):247-253. https://doi.org/10.1017/inp.2017.23.

Impacts of the psyllid Arytinnis hakani on invasive French broom in relation to plant size and psyllid density - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hogg, B.N., Moran, P.J., Smith, L. 2017. Impacts of the psyllid Arytinnis hakani on invasive French broom in relation to plant size and psyllid density. Environmental Entomology. 46(3):552-558. doi: 10.1093/ee/nvx074.

First biological control agent released against Cape-ivy - (Other)
Moran, P.J., Portman, S.L. 2017. First biological control agent released against Cape-ivy. California Invasive Plant Council Newsletter 25(1): 7. http://www.cal-ipc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Dispatch_2017Spring.pdf

Impact of the arundo wasp, Tetramesa romana (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) on biomass of the invasive weed, Arundo donax (Poaceae: Arundinoideae) and on revegetation of riparian habitat along the Rio Grande in Texas - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Moran, P.J., Vacek, A.T., Racelis, A.E., Pratt, P.D., Goolsby, J. 2017. Impact of the arundo wasp, Tetramesa romana (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) on biomass of the invasive weed, Arundo donax (Poaceae: Arundinoideae) and on revegetation of riparian habitat along the Rio Grande in Texas. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 27:96-114.

Development rate, consumption, and host fidelity of Neostauropus alternus (Walker, 1855) Lepidoptera: Notodontidae - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Pratt, P.D., Herdocia, K., Valentin, V., Makinson, J., Purcell, M., Mattison, E.D., Rayamajhi, M.B., Moran, P.J., Raghu, S. 2016. Development rate, consumption, and host fidelity of Neostauropus alternus (Walker, 1855) Lepidoptera: Notodontidae. Pan Pacific Entomology. 92(4):200-209. doi:10.3956/2016-92.4.200.

Multi-generational impacts of the psyllid Arytinnis hakani (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on growth and survival of the invasive weed Genista monspessulana - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hogg, B.N., Moran, P.J., Smith, L. 2016. Multi-generational impacts of the psyllid Arytinnis hakani (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) on growth and survival of the invasive weed Genista monspessulana. Biological Control. 100(1):87-93. doi: 10.1016/j.biocontrol.2016.05.015.

Post-establishment assessment of host plant specificity of Arytainilla spartiophila (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), an adventive biological control agent of Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Hogg, B.N., Smith, L., Moran, P.J., Daane, K.M. 2016. Post-establishment assessment of host plant specificity of Arytainilla spartiophila (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), an adventive biological control agent of Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 26(7):995-1008. doi: 10.1080/09583157.2016.1178707.

Development rate, consumption and host specificity of Carea varipes (Lepidoptera: Nolidae) - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Pratt, P.D., Herdonica, K., Valentine, V., Makinson, J., Purcell, M., Mattison, E.D., Rayamajhi, M.B., Raghu, S., Moran, P.J. 2016. Development rate, consumption and host specificity of Carea varipes (Lepidoptera: Nolidae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 109(4):513-517. doi: 10.1093/aesa/saw021.

Impact of invasive aquatic macrophytes on the population and behavioral ecology of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) - (Abstract Only)
Turnipseed, R.K., Moran, P.J., Allan, S.A. 2016. Impact of invasive aquatic macrophytes on the population and behavioral ecology of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). Meeting Abstract. 84th Mosquito and Vector Control Association of California annual conference, Sacramento, CA February 28-March 2, 2016.

First establishment of the planthopper Megamelus scutellaris Berg 1883 (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) released for biological control of water hyacinth in California - (Peer Reviewed Journal)
Moran, P.J., Pitcairn, M.J., Villegas, B. 2016. First establishment of the planthopper Megamelus scutellaris Berg 1883 (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) released for biological control of water hyacinth in California. Pan Pacific Entomology. 92(1):32-43. doi: 10.3956/2016-92.1.32.