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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #396767
Research Project: Development and Implementation of Biological Control Programs for Natural Area Weeds in the Southeastern United States

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Life history of the leaf-feeding beetle Calomela intemerata, a potential biocontrol agent against Acacia auriculiformis

Author
item GOOSEM, CHRISTINE - James Cook University
item ZONNEVELD, RYAN - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
item Smith, Melissa
item MINTEER, CAREY - University Of Florida
item PURCELL, MATTHEW - Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2023
Publication Date: 9/5/2023
Citation: Goosem, C., Zonneveld, R., Smith, M., Minteer, C., Purcell, M. 2023. Life history of the leaf-feeding beetle Calomela intemerata, a potential biocontrol agent against Acacia auriculiformis. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 00:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13361.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.13361

Interpretive Summary: Earleaf acacia, an invasive Australian tree in Florida, is the target of research to find biological control. Extensive surveys in Australia found two genotypes of the beetle, Calomela intemerata, that correspond to the disjunct range of the host. Earleaf acacia is found in both Northern Territory and Queensland, but the range is not contiguous. We conducted several studies to determine the life history of this insect, part of the process of ascertaining a species' suitability for use as a biological control agent. We found more beetles in NT, and NT beetles ate more and produced more offspring on Florida plants.

Technical Abstract: We examined the biology and life history of Calomela intemerata Lea (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), to determine its potential as a biological control agent of earleaf acacia, Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn. ex Benth, an environmental weed in Florida, USA. Included within are data from field surveys in northern Australia and observations of life history parameters and larval feeding under controlled laboratory conditions. Calomela intemerata is found year-round in the field where both larvae and adults feed on young growth of A. auriculiformis. Two geographically isolated populations of C. intemerata were collected from Northern Territory and Queensland, Australia. We examined development time, survival, and size of immature stages in the laboratory at 25'C. Larvae develop through four instars before moving to the soil for pupation. Egg-to-adult development was approximately 23 days. Adults were long-lived - several individuals survived more than eight months. Females began ovipositing about eight days after emergence and laid on average over 1000 eggs each. Larval performance (i.e. leaf consumption and development rate) of the Northern Territory population was better on the invasive Florida A. auriculiformis. The biological attributes of C. intemerata such as short generation time, high fecundity, lengthy adult longevity, and impact to young growth make it a promising candidate biological control agent for management of A. auriculiformis in Florida. Host specificity testing is currently underway in quarantine in Florida.