Biological control of Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) using native lace bug (Leptoypha mutica)

Preliminary studies show that Leptoypha mutica can obtain nutrients for survival and reproduction on Chinese Privet. This leads to questions of why the native lace bug does not inhabit this plant naturally. Some potential hypothesis’ are that natural enemy complexes on privet prevent L. mutica from utilizing it and also that it may not be a preference host. In order to test these hypothesis’ two studies were performed.  Predator sampling was done on three plant species: green ash, swamp privet and Chinese privet. Beat sampling was administered to 10 plants of each species. The process was repeated four times in different areas. For all sampling, the number and type of specimens collected were recorded and subjected to analysis. For the host study, 12 female and 12 male lace bugs were used. One lace bug was placed in each container with trimmings of each: Chinese privet, swamp privet, and green ash. Each day the containers were evaluated for damage to plants and location of the lace bug, and data was subjected to analysis. Four trials were perfomed. Both studies rejected the hypothesis’. Chinese privet does not have a dense enemy complex, and it serves as a competitive preference host for L. mutica.