Location: Invasive Species and Pollinator Health
Project Number: 2030-22000-033-031-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 26, 2024
End Date: Nov 29, 2024
Objective:
1. Collect a root-feeding weevil discovered by the Cooperating PI on slenderleaf ice plant (Mesembryanthemum nodiflorum) in the Canary Islands and in Morocco.
2. Perform field studies of the weevil's biology, ecology and impact.
3. Upon request, ship this candidate agents to the USDA-ARS ISPH Quarantine Laboratory in Albany, California, for further evaluation.
Approach:
Under Objective 1, the Cooperator and a technician will travel on two trips to the Canary Islands (Spain), focusing on the islands of Tenerife, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote but possibly visiting other islands. One additional trip will focus on coastal areas of southern Morocco. A root-feeding weevil, Temnorhinus mixtus, was found and identified in prior research by the Cooperator to be feeding on slenderleaf ice plant roots in both countries. The Canary Islands are of particular interest because of the genetic proximity of ice plant samples from there to those in the invasive range in California. The Cooperator will coordinate with local experts in the Canary Islands to determine the best time to visit, which is dependent on rainfall, and the best field sites to find the weevil. Under Objective 2, the Cooperator will conduct field studies to estimate the impact of the weevil by comparing infested versus non-infested plants, and will document site features such as climatic or geographic features that may favor the life cycle of the weevil. The Cooperator will also collect natural enemies of the root weevil, if found, and provide to experts for identification. Under Objective 3, the ARS PI will request and the Cooperator will ship up to three collections of the weevil, most likely from the Canary Islands of Spain (separate populations collected on the same trip count as separate collections and shipments), to the ARS WRRC ISPH Quarantine Laboratory in Albany, California, USA for further studies.
