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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #392570
Research Project: Development and Implementation of Biological Control Programs for Natural Area Weeds in the Southeastern United States

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Release and persistance of the Brazilian peppertree biological control agent Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Florida

Author
item Wheeler, Gregory
item MINTEER, CAREY - University Of Florida
item ROHRIG, ERIC - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item STEININGER, SEDONIA - Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services
item Nestle, Rebecca
item Halbritter, Dale
item Leidi, Jorge
item Rayamajhi, Min
item LE FALCHIER, EMILY - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/2022
Publication Date: 10/3/2022
Citation: Wheeler, G.S., Minteer, C., Rohrig, E., Steininger, S., Halbritter, D.A., Leidi, J.G., Rayamajhi, M.B., Le Falchier, E. 2022. Release and persistance of the Brazilian peppertree biological control agent Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Florida. Florida Entomologist. 105(3):225-230. https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0308.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1653/024.105.0308

Interpretive Summary: Brazilian peppertree is an invasive weed of natural and agricultural areas of Florida, Hawaii, and Texas (USA). A thrips was first permitted and released in 2019 as the first biological control agent for this invasive weed in Florida, USA. The thrips feeds on flushing leaves that are produced during the vegetative season of the host. Together, the USDA-ARS, University of Florida, and Florida Department of Food and Consumer Services combined efforts to mass produce and release these beneficial thrips throughout the Brazilian peppertree invaded range of Florida. Between May 2019 and December 2021, more than 2 million beneficial thrips were released at 567 sites in Florida. Over this period, thrips persisted at up to 60% of the survey sites for at least one generation as indicated by recovery of thrips adults at least 60 d after release. These results indicate that this thrips, a classical biological control agent, has persisted in the invaded range of Brazilian peppertree in FL with populations evident at many release sites. This biological control agent will provide land managers with a safe and cost-effective means of controlling Brazilian peppertree.

Technical Abstract: Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia (Anacardiaceae) is an invasive weed of natural and agricultural areas of Florida, Hawaii, and Texas (USA). A thrips, Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) was first permitted and released in 2019 as the first biological control agent for this invasive weed in Florida, USA. The thrips feeds on flushing leaves that are produced during the vegetative season of the host. Together, the USDA-ARS, University of Florida, and Florida Department of Food and Consumer Services combined efforts to mass produce and release P. ichini thrips throughout the Brazilian peppertree invaded range of Florida. Between May 2019 and December 2021, more than 2 million P. ichini thrips were released at 567 sites in Florida. Over this period, P. ichini thrips persisted at up to 60% of the survey sites for at least one generation as indicated by recovery of thrips adults at least 60 d after release. These results indicate that this thrips, a classical biological control agent, has persisted in the invaded range of Brazilian peppertree in FL with populations evident at many release sites. This biological control agent will provide land managers with a safe and cost-effective means of controlling Brazilian peppertree.