Abstract
Tithonia rotundifolia (Mill.) S.F. Blake (Asteraceae) is among the three Tithonia species from Mexico that are invasive in South Africa. To curb its invasiveness and negative impact in South Africa, two chrysomelid beetles, Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål), from Mexico were investigated as candidate biological control agents. The life histories and host ranges of these beetles were studied under laboratory conditions to determine their suitability for release. The two beetle species displayed very similar life histories, including a short pre-oviposition period (13–14 days), incubation period (4–5 days) and lifecycle (40–45 days). The longevity of Z. signatipennis and Z. piceicollis was 113 and 125 days, while their fecundities were 1146 and 1133 eggs per female, respectively. Feeding, oviposition and development of both beetle species were confined within the tribe Heliantheae, but showed a very strong preference for the invasive T. rotundifolia. The only non-target species that supported development to adulthood was the exotic weed Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray, itself a target for biocontrol. Although some sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars were partially utilized during host-specificity tests, none supported complete development, suggesting that both Zygogramma species are suitable for release in South Africa.
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Claims 13
Claim · model-written summary
The two Zygogramma beetle species, studied for biocontrol of Tithonia rotundifolia, had a short pre-oviposition period of 13-14 days.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifolia
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Tithonia rotundifoliae0 - Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennis
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Zygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent - Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollis
Zygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent - Outcome
- pre-oviposition periode2
- Value
- 13–14 dayse2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
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.jpg?width=500)
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
e2“pre-oviposition period (13–14 days)”
Claim · model-written summary
The two Zygogramma beetle species had an incubation period of 4-5 days.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- incubation periode2
- Value
- 4–5 dayse2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
e2“incubation period (4–5 days)”
Claim · model-written summary
The two Zygogramma beetle species had a lifecycle of 40-45 days.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- lifecyclee2
- Value
- 40–45 dayse2
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
e2“lifecycle (40–45 days)”
Claim · model-written summary
Longevity of Zygogramma signatipennis was 113 days.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Z. signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- longevitye1
- Value
- 113e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“The longevity of Z. signatipennis and Z. piceicollis was 113 and 125 days, while their fecundities were 1146 and 1133 eggs per female, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Longevity of Zygogramma piceicollis was 125 days.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Z. piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- longevitye1
- Value
- 125 dayse1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“The longevity of Z. signatipennis and Z. piceicollis was 113 and 125 days, while their fecundities were 1146 and 1133 eggs per female, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Fecundity of Zygogramma signatipennis was 1146 eggs per female.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Z. signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- fecunditiese1
- Value
- 1146e1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“The longevity of Z. signatipennis and Z. piceicollis was 113 and 125 days, while their fecundities were 1146 and 1133 eggs per female, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Fecundity of Zygogramma piceicollis was 1133 eggs per female.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Z. piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- fecunditiese1
- Value
- 1133 eggs per femalee1
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“The longevity of Z. signatipennis and Z. piceicollis was 113 and 125 days, while their fecundities were 1146 and 1133 eggs per female, respectively”
Claim · model-written summary
Feeding, oviposition and development of both Zygogramma species were confined within the plant tribe Heliantheae.
- Taxon
- Tithonia rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- Feeding, oviposition and developmente2
- Qualifier
- confined within the tribe Heliantheaee2
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Tithonia rotundifolia”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
e2“Feeding, oviposition and development of both beetle species were confined within the tribe Heliantheae”
Claim · model-written summary
Both beetle species showed a very strong preference for the invasive Tithonia rotundifolia.
- Taxon
- T. rotundifoliaTithonia rotundifoliae0
- Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- very strong preferencee0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“very strong preference for the invasive T. rotundifolia”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
Claim · model-written summary
The only non-target species supporting development to adulthood was the exotic weed Tithonia diversifolia.
- Taxon
- Tithonia diversifolia
Tithonia diversifoliae0 - Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- supported development to adulthoode0
- Qualifier
- only non-target speciese0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The only non-target species that supported development to adulthood was the exotic weed Tithonia diversifolia”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
Claim · model-written summary
Some sunflower (Helianthus annuus) cultivars were partially utilized by the beetles in host-specificity tests.
- Taxon
- Helianthus annuus
Helianthus annuuse0 - Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- partially utilizede0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“some sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars were partially utilized during host-specificity tests, none supported complete development”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
Claim · model-written summary
None of the tested sunflower cultivars supported complete development of the beetles.
- Taxon
- Helianthus annuusHelianthus annuuse0
- Interactor
- Zygogramma signatipennisZygogramma signatipennise1biocontrol_agent
- Second interactor
- Zygogramma piceicollisZygogramma piceicollise1biocontrol_agent
- Outcome
- complete developmente0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“some sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) cultivars were partially utilized during host-specificity tests, none supported complete development”
e1“Zygogramma signatipennis (Stål) and Zygogramma piceicollis (Stål)”
Claim · model-written summary
The authors conclude that both Zygogramma species are suitable for release in South Africa against Tithonia rotundifolia.
- Taxon
- Zygogramma
Zygogrammae0 - Outcome
- suitable for releasee0
- Setting
- South Africae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“both Zygogramma species are suitable for release in South Africa”