Abstract
Native to Europe, North Africa and western Asia, Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae) has invaded natural and human-modified wetlands worldwide. This species is considered a noxious weed in several countries including Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand. Its broad ecological tolerance, high resilience and reproductive potential make current mechanical and chemical control measures cost-ineffective, and biological control is considered a suitable alternative. In order to prioritise candidate biocontrol agents, a list of organisms reported to attack the plant within its native range has been assembled, and information about their host-range and damaging potential gathered from the literature. Furthermore, surveys for natural enemies of the plant were conducted in Belgium and northern Italy. The insect fauna associated with I. pseudacorus at the sites surveyed comprised mostly incidental visitors and polyphagous feeders, with the exception of the sawfly Rhadinoceraea micans Klug (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), the seed weevil Mononychus punctumalbum Herbst (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and the flea beetle Aphthona nonstriata Goeze (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The potential of these species for biocontrol was evaluated, and A. nonstriata was given highest priority. A population of this species was imported to quarantine in South Africa, where it is currently undergoing host-specificity testing. Importation of the two remaining candidates is expected shortly. In conclusion, the prospects for the biological control of I. pseudacorus appear promising.
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Claims 4
Claim · model-written summary
Insects associated with Iris pseudacorus at the surveyed sites were mostly incidental visitors and polyphagous feeders, apart from the sawfly, seed weevil and flea beetle named.
- Taxon
- Iris pseudacorus
.jpg?width=60)
Iris pseudacorust0 - Interactor
- Rhadinoceraea micans
_detail.JPG?width=60)
Rhadinoceraea micanse0herbivore - Second interactor
- Mononychus punctumalbum
Mononychus punctumalbume0herbivore - Outcome
- insect fauna associated with I. pseudacoruse0
- Qualifier
- mostly incidental visitors and polyphagous feederse0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.jpg?width=500)
_detail.JPG?width=500)
Verbatim
t0“Prospects for the biological control of Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae)”
e0“The insect fauna associated with I. pseudacorus at the sites surveyed comprised mostly incidental visitors and polyphagous feeders, with the exception of the sawfly Rhadinoceraea micans Klug (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), the seed weevil Mononychus punctumalbum Herbst (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and the flea beetle Aphthona nonstriata Goeze (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)”
Claim · model-written summary
Aphthona nonstriata was given highest priority as a biological control candidate for Iris pseudacorus.
- Taxon
- Iris pseudacorusIris pseudacorust0
- Interactor
- A. nonstriata
.png?width=60)
Aphthona nonstriatae1biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- highest prioritye1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
.png?width=500)
Verbatim
t0“Prospects for the biological control of Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae)”
e1“The potential of these species for biocontrol was evaluated, and A. nonstriata was given highest priority”
Claim · model-written summary
A population of the candidate biocontrol insect was imported to quarantine in South Africa and is undergoing host-specificity testing.
- Taxon
- Iris pseudacorusIris pseudacorust0
- Outcome
- host-specificity testinge2
- Setting
- quarantine in South Africae2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Prospects for the biological control of Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae)”
e2“A population of this species was imported to quarantine in South Africa, where it is currently undergoing host-specificity testing”
Claim · model-written summary
The prospects for biological control of Iris pseudacorus appear promising.
- Taxon
- Iris pseudacorusIris pseudacorust0
- Outcome
- prospects for the biological controle3
- Direction
- promisinge3
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
t0“Prospects for the biological control of Iris pseudacorus L. (Iridaceae)”
e3“In conclusion, the prospects for the biological control of I. pseudacorus appear promising”