Host range of Boreioglycaspis melaleucae Moore (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), a potential biocontrol agent of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T. Blake (Myrtaceae), under quarantine

Abstract

Research on the natural enemies of the Australian tree Melaleuca quinquenervia , a dominant, adventive weed of wetland habitats in south Florida, USA began in the late 1970s. Since then host-range tests have been conducted in Australia and Florida on three insect species: a weevil, a sawfly, and a psyllid. Herein we discuss the host-range studies of the psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae conducted in quarantine in Florida. Tests showed that the host range is very narrow, limited to one Melaleuca species, M. quinquenervia . One time, a few psyllids developed on a different species, Callistemon (= Melaleuca ) citrinus , broad-leaf form, but repeated efforts to rear it again failed. In its Australian homeland, B. melaleucae has been collected on 5 closely related broad-leaved Melaleuca species including M. quinquenervia ; it developed on 2 of 4 species tested, M. viridiflora (28%) and M. quinquenervia (37%). There was also 2% development on a 6th narrow-leaved Melaleuca species, M. nodosa . In the New World, there are no native Melaleuca species; in the United States, there is one introduced group, Callistemon (= Melaleuca ), which is of commercial value and just one naturalized species, M. quinquenervia , which has no commercial value. Because of the near absence of Melaleuca species and B. melaleucae’s narrow host range and ability to severely damage or kill M. quinquenervia , we concluded that field release of B. melaleucae in south Florida would be safe. The first releases were made in February 2002.