Pereskiophaga brasiliensis, a natural enemy of the invasive alien cactus Pereskia aculeata, is not suitably host specific for biological control in South Africa

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe stem-mining weevil, Pereskiophaga brasiliensis, was a candidate biological control agent for the invasive cactus Pereskia aculeata in South Africa. In host specificity trials, it developed on two indigenous test plant species under choice and no-choice conditions. Pereskiophaga brasiliensis is therefore not suitably host specific for release in South Africa.