The phytophagous insect, Epiblema strenuana, is an effective biocontrol agent against Ambrosia and Parthenium, and was introduced to China in 1990 to control Ambrosia artemisiifolia. After a small scale release in Hun...The phytophagous insect, Epiblema strenuana, is an effective biocontrol agent against Ambrosia and Parthenium, and was introduced to China in 1990 to control Ambrosia artemisiifolia. After a small scale release in Hunan Province, E. strenuana established and begun to spread. Host specificity and feeding studies in Hunan have indicated that there are four host plants in China, A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida, Xanthium sibiricum and Parthenium hysterophorus. These plants are all weeds that need to be controlled. However, there are still some different views among scientists about the merits of this release because of potential effects on non-target species such as Helianthus annuus, and uncertainty about climatic suitability. To address these concerns, the CLIMEX system was used to predict the possibility of establishment of E. strenuana with A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida, and P. hysterophorus at 85 meteorological locations. Also, the probability of E. strenuana co-establishing with A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida or P. hysterophorus was evaluated quantitatively by bioclimatic risk index (BCRI) transferred from ecoclimate index (EI). Moreover, the hypothetical adaptation of E. strenuana to H. annuus as a host, were evaluated by bioclimate matching. These results help to predict the potential spread of A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida, P. hysterophorus and evaluate the merits of further releases of E. strenuana in China.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(39770510)National 10th“Five-year Plan”Key Research Program(2001BA611B-06-1-5).
文摘The phytophagous insect, Epiblema strenuana, is an effective biocontrol agent against Ambrosia and Parthenium, and was introduced to China in 1990 to control Ambrosia artemisiifolia. After a small scale release in Hunan Province, E. strenuana established and begun to spread. Host specificity and feeding studies in Hunan have indicated that there are four host plants in China, A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida, Xanthium sibiricum and Parthenium hysterophorus. These plants are all weeds that need to be controlled. However, there are still some different views among scientists about the merits of this release because of potential effects on non-target species such as Helianthus annuus, and uncertainty about climatic suitability. To address these concerns, the CLIMEX system was used to predict the possibility of establishment of E. strenuana with A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida, and P. hysterophorus at 85 meteorological locations. Also, the probability of E. strenuana co-establishing with A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida or P. hysterophorus was evaluated quantitatively by bioclimatic risk index (BCRI) transferred from ecoclimate index (EI). Moreover, the hypothetical adaptation of E. strenuana to H. annuus as a host, were evaluated by bioclimate matching. These results help to predict the potential spread of A. artemisiifolia, A. trifida, P. hysterophorus and evaluate the merits of further releases of E. strenuana in China.
