Biotic and abiotic factors influencing infestation levels of the arundo leafminer, Lasioptera donacis, in its native range in Mediterranean Europe

Authors

Madeline Marshall, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
John A. Goolsby, United States Department of Agriculture
Ann T. Vacek, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Alexis Racelis, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

Lasioptera donacis is a biological control agent of Arundo donax, which is an invasive weed in the riparian hab-itats of the Rio Grande Basin of Texas and Northern Mexico. Field research was conducted in the native range of L. donacis in Mediterranean Europe to evaluate the biotic and abiotic factors that influence its local infestation levels. Lasioptera donacis feeding damage was documented on 40.4 and 67.8 % of dead and decaying leaf sheaths respectively across all sites. Lasioptera donacis was active in all locations including highly disturbed sites, but showed a slight preference for sites near running freshwater sources and lower infestation levels adjacent to salt water sources. The environmental preferences of L. donacis in Europe are similar to conditions in the Rio Grande Basin and Southwestern U.S. where A. donax is invasive.

Comments

© Subtropical Agriculture and Environment

Recommended Citation

Marshall, M., Goolsby, J. A., Vacek, A. T., Mastoras, A., Kashefi, J., Chaskopoulou, A., Smith, L., Badillo, I., Reilly, Jr., F. J., Perez de Leon, A. A., & Racelis, A. (2018). Biotic and abiotic factors influencing infestation levels of the arundo leafminer, Lasioptera donacis, in its native range in Mediterranean Europe. Subtropical Agriculture and Environments, 69, 8–18.

First Page

8

Last Page

18

Publication Title

Subtropical Agriculture and Environments