The biology of Episimus utilis Zimmerman, a natural enemy of Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, was investigated in a quarantine laboratory as part of a classical biological control program against this invasive weed in Florida, USA. Adults lived on average 8.7 days and a generation was completed in 42.3 days at a temperature of 22.0 oC and a 12:12 (L:D) h photoperiod. Peak egg production occurred 3 to 4 days after females eclosed from the pupal stage. Females deposited a maximum of 172 eggs, with an average daily maximum of 13.6 eggs. The durations of the egg, larval and pupal stages were 5.9, 32.0, and 12.0 days, respectively. Stage specific life tables were constructed to calculate basic population statistics. Under laboratory conditions where predation and food supply were not limiting factors, a population of E. utilis was capable of increasing 1.17 times per day, and a doubling of the population would occur every 4.40 days. To date, ten consecutive generations of E. utilis have been produced on potted Brazil peppertree plants in the laboratory. The potential effectiveness of E. utilis as a biological control agent of Brazilian peppertree in Florida was examined using the Goeden scoring system.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Tortricidae Episimus utilis
Species 2: Sapindales Anacardiaceae Schinus terebinthifolius
Keywords: Christmas berry, weed biological control
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