First record of a specialist folivore of <i>Chromolaena odorata</i> (Asteraceae) in Togo, and indices of its range expansion in Nigeria: implications for biological control

Aigbedion-Atalor, Pascal Osa; Idemudia, Itohan; Adom, Médétissi; Day, Michael

doi:10.1080/09583157.2018.1493722

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…However, previous research by Watanabe, et al [38] revealed that the parasitism of aphid, Macrosiphoniella yomogicola, significantly decreased the number of inflorescences of the mugwort (Artemisia montana). The presence of several herbivores may be effective to control C. odorata, which was also shown in the simultaneous occurrence between C. connexa and P. pseudoinsulata that significantly reduced the performance of C. odorata [39,40].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Insect Communities Associated with Siam Weed: Evaluation after Three Decades of Cecidochares connexa Release as Biocontrol Agent

et al. 2020

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Chromolaena odorata is well known as an invasive weed, and its existence in agricultural habitats causes an undesirable effect on crop plants. The invasion of C. odorata alters local biodiversity and shapes the new trophic interaction with local herbivores and other insects. This research was conducted to study the insect communities associated with C. odorata and evaluate the success of the release of Cecidochares connexa, the natural enemy of C. odorata. Field research was conducted in two different geographical regions in Bogor Regency (Java) and South Lampung Regency (Sumatera), Indonesia. In each region, we selected five villages that have two land-use types (oil palm plantations and open area) and contain a high population of C. odorata. Observation of insects and natural enemies of C. odorata was conducted in each land-use type using two methods: suction sampling and gall collection, which were performed in 30 plants as sampling units. In total, we found 255 species of insects associated with C. odorata. The difference of region affected the abundance of insects but not their species richness. The species composition of insects showed difference between regions as well as between land-use types. There was a positive correlation between elevation and species richness of insects. In addition, the population of C. connexa (gall numbers) was significantly affected by regions and was found to be higher in Bogor and Lampung. The same pattern also was shown for its parasitoids (based on parasitized galls). We found a negative relationship between the number as well as parasitize galls and elevation. In conclusion, the presence of C. odorata, as well as its natural enemies, shape the new trophic interaction with local insects, and as consequence, its introduced natural enemies may not be effective to control the population of C. odorata.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Insect Communities Associated with Siam Weed: Evaluation after Three Decades of Cecidochares connexa Release as Biocontrol Agent

et al. 2020

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“…For example, Timbilla and Braimah (2000) reported the restoration of extant vegetation, which was previously endangered due to the proliferation of C. odorata, and a significant decline in cover (from 80 to 30%) of C. odorata following a successful biological control effort in Ghana. The specialist folivore Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) was released and established in Ghana in the 1990s (Timbilla and Braimah, 2000) and subsequently spread into neighbouring countries, such as Togo, and further into Benin and Nigeria (Aigbedion‐Atalor et al ., 2018a) and likely into countries west of Ghana, such as Côte d’Ivoire. There is also evidence of the impact of another agent, the stem‐galling fly Cecidochares connexa Maquart (Diptera: Tephritidae) on C. odorata in Ghana (Aigbedion‐Atalor et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Weed or not a weed? Density, perceptions and management of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) in West Africa: Voices from Ghana

Aigbedion-Atalor

2020

Weed Research

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The term 'natural' in our biological world is considered becoming obsolete due to human influences (McNeely, 2001). Under the influence of humans in this epoch, organisms are becoming transported at an unprecedented rate between regions faster and further (Ricciardi, 2007; Ricciardi and Cohen, 2007) and have caused substantial changes to recipient ecosystems (Asner and Vitousek, 2005; Simberloff, 2011; Kenis et al., 2017). In some cases, the introduction of these species may result in economic benefits and/or the addition to indigenous nutrition (McNeely, 2001). For example, substantial amounts of human dietary needs worldwide are provided by species that have been introduced from elsewhere (Hoyt, 1992). In this context, therefore, species introduction is required and crucial for sustainable human welfare. In contrast, there is a myriad of introduced species that arrive in new environments with devastating consequences (Blackburn et al., 2014). The impacts of these deleterious introduced species, albeit ecologically serious, are not limited to ecosystems structure and function alone but may also affect human health and livelihoods in novel environments (Shackleton et al., 2019). The acclimatisation of such devastating new species in novel ranges-termed 'biological

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“…The initial project was unsuccessful but a renewed programme in the early 1990s, coordinated by the University of Guam (USA) and the Crop Research Institute (CRI) in Ghana, resulted in the release and establishment of the moth Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) [ 12 ]. However, due to the poor distribution [ 13 ] and limited impacts of P . pseudoinsulata on C .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marching across and beyond West Africa: First record of the stem-galling fly Cecidochares connexa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Central Africa and the implications for biological control of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae)

et al. 2021

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The Neotropical invasive plant Chromolaena odorata R.M. King and H. Robinson (Asteraceae) is a serious weed in West and Central Africa and two biological control agents that have been introduced into West Africa to help reduce its impacts on agriculture and biodiversity, have established. The stem-galling fly, Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritidae), has spread widely across West Africa since its release in only Côte d’Ivoire, occurring in six countries. This study aimed to investigate whether the gall fly had spread further across West Africa and into Central Africa. Here, we surveyed C. odorata for C. connexa galls in Cameroon between October 2018 and October 2020, along roadsides, on farms, residential areas, and abandoned plots, encompassing various vegetation types. Additional surveys were conducted across four countries (Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria) in West Africa that we considered the probable pathway for the spread of the gall fly into Central Africa. Cecidochares connexa was present at five of the six locations surveyed in Cameroon, albeit in varying abundance. In Africa, these findings represent the first-ever report of C. connexa outside of West Africa. In West Africa, we recorded significant expansion in the geographic range of C. connexa, as reflected in the absent-present record of C. connexa in two locations in Nigeria and one in Ghana, as well as its occurrence in all locations surveyed in Benin Republic and Togo. Clearly, Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic and Nigeria served as the dispersal pathway of C. connexa from the release sites in Côte d’Ivoire into Cameroon, covering over 2,300 km. Following the spread and establishment of C. connexa into Cameroon, we anticipate that it will continue to spread further into other parts of Central Africa which are climatically suitable. Cecidochares connexa is currently the only biological control agent for C. odorata in Central Africa. Given that it has significantly reduced populations of C. odorata in other countries where it has established, it is expected to have a similar impact in Central Africa.

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First record of a specialist folivore of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) in Togo, and indices of its range expansion in Nigeria: implications for biological control

Cited by 6 publications

References 4 publications

Insect Communities Associated with Siam Weed: Evaluation after Three Decades of Cecidochares connexa Release as Biocontrol Agent

Insect Communities Associated with Siam Weed: Evaluation after Three Decades of Cecidochares connexa Release as Biocontrol Agent

Weed or not a weed? Density, perceptions and management of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae) in West Africa: Voices from Ghana

Marching across and beyond West Africa: First record of the stem-galling fly Cecidochares connexa (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Central Africa and the implications for biological control of Chromolaena odorata (Asteraceae)

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