R. Muniappan
IPM CRSP
First Successful Biological Control
of a Weed -1795
Control of Opuntia monacantha by
Dactylopius ceylonicus in India
(1796-1809)
Subsequently released in Sri Lanka,
Australia and South Africa
Opuntia stricta damaged by
Dactylopius opuntiae
photos by H. Zimmermann
Chromolaena odorata
(Eupatorium odoratum) Asteraceae (Compositae)
In a coconut plantation
Flowers in Dec. – Jan. in
N. Hemisphere and June – July
in S. Hemisphere
Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata
(Lep. Arctiidae)
Chromolaena defoliated by
Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata in Rota
Yellowing of Chromoalena due to Insect
Induced Defense
Marutnai and Muniappan (1991) Ann. Appl. Biol. 119: 227-237
Electron microscopy of leaf tissue
Green leaf
Yellow leaf
Eriophyid mite, Acalitus adoratus
Distribution
Infested leaf
Gall fly, Cecidochares connexa
(Dip.: Tephretidae)
Gall fly ovipositing in the
terminal shoot
Photo by Desmier de Chinon
Distribution of gall fly
Cecidochares connexa
Gall
Maggots in side the gall
Minerals in nutrient sink of the
galls
Chromolaena workshop conducted
Seven Proceedings and 17 Newsletters published
 1988 – Bangkok, Thailand
 1991 – Bogor, Indonesia
 1993 – Abidjan, Ivory Coast
 1966 – Bangalore, India
 2000 – Durban, South Africa
 2003 – Cairns, Australia
 2006 – Pingtung, Taiwan
Coccinia grandis in Guam
Coccinia grandis flowers &
fruits
Acythopeus cocciniae
(Curculionidae)
Adult weevils
Larval mining
Acythopeus burkhartorum
(Curculionidae)
Pupal chamber
Adult
Gall in the
tendril
Melittia oedipus (Sesiidae)
Adult
Larva in the stem
Coccinia grandis biocontrol in
Hawaii (Waimanalo, Hilo)
Pictures: courtesy of Hawaii Department of Agriculture
Before release of
biocontrol agents
Six years after release of
biocontrol agents
Lantana camara (Verbenaceae)
Uroplatis girardi, a leaf mining
chrysomelid beetle
Adult
Leaf damaged by grubs
Tingid bug, Teleonomia scrupulosa
Adult
Flower damaged by
Lantanophaga pusilidactyla
(Pterophoridae)
Parthenium hysterophorus
(Asteraceae)
A field covered by Parthenium in India
Parthenium defoliated by Zygogramma
histrophorus (Chrysomelidae)
Photos: K. Dhileepan
Giant sensitive plant, Mimosa diplotricha
(Mimosaceae)
Pictures: L. Kuniata
 Heteropsylla spinosa – Effect of
nirogen application
a) Adults
25
Adults per 30cm tip
in Papua New Guinea
20
15
10
5
0
13-Dec-91 20-Dec-91 27-Dec-91 3-Jan-92
Control
7-Jan-92
8-Feb-92
Urea
d) Dam age
Damage score (1=no control, 10
= complete control)
 M. diplotricha infested area
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
13-Dec91
20-Dec91
27-Dec91
Control
3-Jan-92
7-Jan-92 8-Feb-92
Urea
Salvinia molesta
contol by
Cyrtobagous salviniae
Photos : P. Room and M. Julien
Waterhyacinth,
Eichhornia crassipes
Waterhyacinth flower
A pond in India infested by
waterhyacinth
Waterhyacinth in PNG
Photos: J.A. Coetzee et al.
Waterhyacinth in a lake before and after
release of Neochetina eichornieiae and N.
bruchi
Photos: J.A. Coetzee et al.
Benefit cost analysis for the biological control of invasive
weeds in the tropics
Weed
Country
Benefit/cost ratio
Acacia longifolia (Andr.) willd
South Africa
104
Acacia pycantha Benth
South Africa
665
Acacia saligna (Labill.) Wendl.)
South Africa
800
Azolla filiculoides
South Africa
2.5
13
Eichhornia crassipes
Benin
Australia
124
27.5
Lantana camara
South Africa
Australia
Australia
22
5.6
9
Benefit cost analysis for the biological control of invasive
weeds in the tropics (Contd.)
Weed
Country
Mimosa diplotricha
Australia
17.6
Mimosa pigra
Australia
0.8
Opuntia aurantiaca Lindley
South Africa
709
Opuntia spp.
Australia
312.3
Parthenium hysterophorus L.
Australia
7.2
Pistia stratoides
Australia
27.5
Prosopis spp.
Australia
0.5
Salvinia molesta D. S. Mitchell
Australia
Sri Lanka
27.5
53
10.6
Zimbabwe
Benefit/cost ratio