ABSTRACT

Biological control methods may provide efficient and environmentally sustainable methods for curbing invasive weeds. Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) is an invasive weed of forest ecosystems on oceanic islands and one of the most invasive alien species. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and assess the population dynamics of herbivorous insects that feed on M. calvescens in Brazil. The following species were found on M. calvescens plants at our three study locations: Apion sp. (Brentidae), Agrilus sp. (Buprestidae), Cryptorhynchus sp., Naupactus spp. (Curculionidae), Brasilaphthona sp., Cerotoma sp., Chrysodina sp., Colaspis sp., Diabrotica speciosa, and one unidentified species of the subfamily Cassidinae (Chrysomelidae). According to host specificity and impact caused to M. calvescens, the fruit-feeding Apion sp. and the stem-boring Cryptorhynchus sp. have high potential for this weed's biological control. Thus, our results provide useful information for potential biological control programmes for M. calvescens using herbivorous insects and will be helpful for companies working on natural weed control for this species.

摘要

生物防治方法可以提供有效和环境可持续的方法来遏制入侵杂草。Miconia calvescens DC (Melastomataceae) 是海洋岛屿森林生态系统的入侵杂草，也是最具入侵性的外来物种之一。因此，本研究旨在确定和评估巴西以M. calvescens为食的草食性昆虫的种群动态。在我们三个研究地点的M. calvescens植物上发现了以下物种：Apion sp 。(Brentidae), Agrilus sp. (Buprestidae), Cryptorhynchus sp., Naupactus spp. (Curculionidae), Brasilaphthona sp.,Cerotoma sp.、Chrysodina sp.、Colaspis sp.、Diabrotica speciosa和一种未鉴定的Cassidinae亚科（Chrysomelidae）。根据寄主特异性和对M. calvescens造成的影响，以果实为食的 Apion sp. 和钻茎的 Cryptorhynchus sp。对这种杂草的生物防治具有很高的潜力。因此，我们的结果为使用食草昆虫的M. calvescens 的潜在生物控制计划提供了有用的信息，并将有助于致力于该物种天然杂草控制的公司。