Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum
The United States
Department of Agriculture is funding research in Australia to find
natural enemies of Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum,
which is listed as one of the most serious invasive weeds in Florida.
The vine climbs high into trees and over shrubs, smothering whole
plant communities. Exploration
for biocontrol agents is underway in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Twenty-two herbivores
have been collected so far and two moths are in the University of
Florida/ARS quarantine in Gainesville for final host range testing.
A third moth species from New Caledonia is in culture in Brisbane
quarantine facilities and a forth species, a stem borer, is under
development in Thailand.
A mite which
causes leaf curling and stunts new growth has been collected from
throughout the range of L. microphyllum in Australia and
Asia.
Supported
by: The United States Department of Agriculture
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