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Suitability of a leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia sp., for biological control of the invasive aquatic weed, Hydrilla verticillata in South Africa

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Abstract

South Africa developed its first biological control programme for a submerged aquatic weed following the discovery of Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle (Hydrocharitaceae) in a major tourism dam in 2006. A leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia sp. (Diptera: Ephydridae) from Singapore, originating on a closely related biotype of the weed invading South Africa, was considered a priority candidate agent. Host range was investigated through no-choice and paired-choice larval development trials. “Host suitability” trials (multiple generations and performance) were used to further evaluate the potential for non-target host use by the fly. Hydrellia sp. developed on a few closely related species in the Hydrocharitaceae and one species in the Potamogetonaceae. However, paired-choice tests demonstrated a strong preference for its host plant and the host suitability trials indicated that Hydrellia sp. has very limited potential to establish permanent populations on native aquatic plant species. Hydrellia sp. should therefore be considered safe for release in South Africa.

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Acknowledgments

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs—Invasive Alien Species Programme (KZN DAEA-IASP) and the Department of Environmental Affairs—Natural Resource Management (DEA-NRM) Programmes are gratefully acknowledged for funding the hydrilla biological control research. The contributions of Matthew Purcell (CSIRO Australia) and Michael Grodowitz (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) have been invaluable, through providing starter cultures of the candidate biological control agents and guidance on their rearing. Rene Glen is thanked for providing a phylogeny of the southern African Alismatales. The following people are thanked for assistance, either directly or indirectly, with locating and collecting test plants: Dave Druce, Catherine Hanekom, Dennis Kelly (KZN Wildlife), Llewellyn Foxcroft, Martin Engelbrecht and Samson Ndlovu (SANParks), Grant Martin (Rhodes University), Daleen Strydom (WfW), Petrus Visser (DeBeers Group), Natasha DuPlessis (Nylsvlei), Neil Stallard (Fish Designs), and Boschoek Golf Course.

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  1. Agricultural Research Council—Plant Protection Research Institute (ARC-PPRI), Private Bag X6006, Hilton, 3245, South Africa

    Angela Bownes

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  1. Angela Bownes
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Correspondence to Angela Bownes.

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Bownes, A. Suitability of a leaf-mining fly, Hydrellia sp., for biological control of the invasive aquatic weed, Hydrilla verticillata in South Africa. BioControl 59, 771–780 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-014-9615-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-014-9615-6

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