Abstract
THE rapid spread of Lantana, a garden escape, in Northern Queensland has brought it amongst the serious weed pests for which the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Australia, is seeking methods of control. In 1935 studies of Teleonemia lantanœ were commenced in Fiji, where this bug had been introduced from Mexico, its native home, by way of Hawaii. As it proved harmless to any Australian plants of economic importance, it was established under quarantine conditions in Canberra in 1936. The first liberations were made late in that year in the Northern Rivers area of New South Wales, and afterwards near Atherton in Queensland, and at Rockhampton. Disappointment followed; the bugs seemed to have disappeared, until in April of this year they were reported in the Atherton district in enormous numbers over an area of some twenty-four acres. Leaves were falling from the Lantana bushes, flowers had been destroyed and in some instances up to two feet of the ends of branches had besn killed as the result of the bug feeding on them. At Rockhampton also there are signs of establishment. Undue optimism is to be deprecated, and it is unlikely that similar success will be attained to that of Cactoblastis on prickly pear. It still remains to be seen whether Teleonemia can maintain itself in large numbers and whether continuous defoliation will destroy Lantana; nevertheless, the outlook is promising.
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Entomological Control of Lantana. Nature 144, 18 (1939). https://doi.org/10.1038/144018b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/144018b0