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Alligator Weed and a Biological Control
Agent (based on Julien et al.
1995)
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Alligator weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides, invades a range of habitats from dry terrestrial to aquatic, where it may be rooted into the bank or substrate beneath shallow water or may form independent free-floating mats. It is a northeast
Argentinean species that has invaded the Americas, Asia and Australia and some of the adjacent island countries. In USA and China alligator weed has reached the limits of its distribution, but
it is expanding its distribution in Australia. To assist planning for surveillance, quarantine and control, it would be useful to predict areas that would support growth of this weed in Australia, and elsewhere.
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Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides).
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| A flea-beetle, Agasicles hygrophila, was introduced to the USA in the 1960s and achieved control of the weed in the southern portion of its range. Following introduction to Australia, the flea-beetle achieved control of aquatic infestations of the weed. Again, to assist with weed management it would be useful to use current knowledge to predict where this biological control agent could be successful. |
Flea-beetle (Agasicles hygrophila)
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On the basis of the following CLIMEX predictions, it is obvious that alternatives to the flea-beetle will be needed for control of alligator weed over much of its potential range.
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Gunter Maywald and
Robert Sutherst |
