Source: COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA submitted to
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF MILE-A-MINUTE WEED, MIKANIA MICRANTHA KUNTH, IN THE REPUBLIC OF PALAU
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0200526
Grant No.
(N/A)
Project No.
MIR-PCC16
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Oct 1, 2004
Project End Date
Sep 30, 2008
Grant Year
(N/A)
Project Director
Esguerra, N. M.
Recipient Organization
COLLEGE OF MICRONESIA
PO BOX 1179
KOLONIA POHNPEI,FM 96941
Performing Department
COLLEGE ADMINISTRATION
Non Technical Summary
The mile-a minute weed is an invasive weed species introduced to Palau. It retards the growth of crops and natural vegetation by direct competition and by producing plant inhibitors. This project will import a nymphalid butterfly (Actinote anteas) from Indonesia, rear it to pure culture and release in areas heavily infested with the weed. Its establishment will be monitored to find out if its population has increased and whether further spread of the weed is prevented in the release areas.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
90%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
21323001140100%
Knowledge Area
213 - Weeds Affecting Plants;

Subject Of Investigation
2300 - Weeds;

Field Of Science
1140 - Weed science;
Goals / Objectives
1.To import from Indonesia live egg specimens of the biological control agent, Actinote anteas. 2.To rear the biological control agent, Actinote anteas, using Mikania grown in pots in the screenhouse. 3.To determine possible alternate host plants of the biological control agent. 4.To make a survey on the density of M. micrantha weed in two infested locations in Palau. 5.To determine if there are other herbivores that attack Mikania in Palau. 6.To release and monitor the establishment of the introduced biological control agent, A. anteas, on two release areas.
Project Methods
1. The biological control agent, A. anteas, is available and is being reared for biological control of Mikania in Indonesia. An import permit will be obtained from the Palau Division of Agriculture, Ministry of Resources and Development to facilitate entry of the biological control agent, A. anteas, from Indonesia into Palau. 2. Upon receiving the biological control agent, A. anteas, it will be reared continuously on potted Mikania in the screenhouse for mass released on Mikania infested areas later. 3. Host specificity studies will be conducted using two tests: free choice test and no choice test. In the free choice test, a circular wooden disc will be made. Leaves of sweet potato, cassava, taro, Siam weed, three other medicinal plants and mile-a-minute weed will be placed separately on the edges of the disc. Twenty larvae of A. anteas, which were starved for three hours, will be placed at the center of the circle and will be allowed to move freely to choose the leaves they prefer to feed. After 6 hours, larvae attracted to each plant will be counted. The test will be repeated four times. In the no choice test, each potted sweet potato, taro, cassava, Siam weed, mile-a-minute weed and three medicinal plants will be enclosed separately with mesh wire wrapped in muslin cloth. On each plant, ten larvae of A. anteas will be released. One week after, the number of live caterpillars will be counted. 4. Life history studies will be conducted on those larvae that fed on the other plants aside from the mile-a-minute weed. This will involve determining the length of larval stages, pupal stage, adults, number of eggs laid, and mortality of each stage when fed continuously with known alternate hosts. 5. Before releasing the biological control agent, a 1 x 1 meter quadrant each will be established at two sites infested with Mikania. The number of Mikania plants will be counted and recorded. 6. Counts of the Mikania weed in each quadrant at each release site will be done at 6, 9, 12, and 18 months from initial release of the biological control agent. Extent of damage on Mikania caused by the biological control agent will be assessed. 7. During each survey, other arthropods attacking Mikania will be recorded. 8. Periodic releases of the biological control agent, A. anteas, from screenhouse cultures will be done on the two release sites until establishment occurs. On each survey, the caterpillars of A. anteas (at different instars) will be counted on Mikania in the two release sites. 9. Results of the study will be published in scientific journals as well as in extension publications.

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Up to the present time, the SPC Principal investigator on biological control has not sent live specimens of the nymphaliid butterfly, Actinote sp. It was found that he also had difficulty in establishing continuously a colony in good number in the greenhouse in Fiji. He has been trying to find a technique to mass rear the insect in the laboratory. It is hoped that finally within this fiscal year we will get the insect from him to start our culture in the laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Secretariat of the Pacific Community TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers growing root crops in Palau PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Once the biological control agent gets established and begins controlling the spread of the mile-a-minute weed, native vegetation will come back promoting plant diversity and environmental health. In cultivated areas, farm lands can be opened again, thereby assuring farmers of increased farm production and consequently adding income to the family.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The nymphalid butterfly, Actinote sp., was obtained from Dr. De Chenon, French Entomologist working in Indonesia. Eggs and newly hatched larvae of the butterfly were air mailed to Palau. They were then reared on potted Mikania in the greenhouse. The cultures reached the adult stage and were provided a big space in the greenhouse in order to fly and mate. The biological control specialist from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) also promised to provide cultures of the butterflies. Unfortunately, they themselves could not succesfully rear them in the laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. De Chenon, French Entomologist working in Indonesia; Dr. Warapa Orea, SPC Biological Control Specialist TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers in Palau. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
Some adult butterflies mated but after several days, no eggs were laid. Therefore the culture was finally lost in the greenhouse. SPC was not to provide cultures of the biological control agent.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In our communication with Mr. Warea Orapa, SPC Project Leader on biological control, he mentioned that he is now busy with host specificity studies being conducted on the nymphalid butterfly. He stressed that once these studies are done and it is safe to use it for biological control of mile-a-minute weed, he will see to it that some live specimens will be sent to Palau so that we can start the culture of the insect for release in areas where the weed is considered a problem pest. PARTICIPANTS: Secretariat of the Pacific Community TARGET AUDIENCES: Farmers growing root crops on Palau

Impacts
Once the biological control agent gets established and begins controlling the spread of the mile-a-minute weed, native vegetation will come back promoting plant diversity and environmental health. In cultivated areas, farm lands can be opened again, thereby assuring farmers of increased farm production and consequently adding income to the family.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/06 to 12/31/06

Outputs
Mr. Warea Orapa, the Principal investigator of a project on biological control of Mikania micrantha in Papua New Guinea had verbally promised to hand carry to Palau the nymphalid butterfly, Actinote sp. after the host specificity studies for Actinote has been completed in Papua New Guinea. He expects to come to Palau by early 2007.

Impacts
Once the biological control agent gets established and begins controlling the spread of the mile-a-minute weed, natural vegetation will reappear promoting diversity and environmental health. In cultivated areas, farm lands can be opened again, thereby assuring farmers of increased farm production and consequently adding income to the family.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 01/01/05 to 12/31/05

Outputs
Two shipments of Actinote eggs from Indonesia were received on March 15, 2005 and April 11, 2005. By the time the packages reached Palau, the eggs had hatched, some young larvae were already dead and host leaves were rotten. The few larvae that survived reached the adult stage. However, even though mating occurred, the female butterflies did not lay their eggs. Eventually, the culture of Actinote was lost. The scientist from Indonesia was contacted again. Also, another scientist from the South Pacific Commission (SPC) who has an ACIAR funded Project on biological control of mile-a-minute weed in Fiji and Papua New Guinea using Actinote butterflies was also contacted. Hopefully, since Fiji is nearer to Palau than Indonesia, healthier cultures of Actinote butterflies may be available to start a culture of the insect in Palau.

Impacts
Once the biological control agent gets established and begins controlling the spread of the mile-a-minute weed, natural vegetation will reappear promoting diversity and environmental health. In cultivated areas, farm lands can be opened again, thereby assuring farmers of increased farm production and consequently adding income to the family.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period


Progress 10/01/04 to 12/31/04

Outputs
An import permit for Actinote anteas, a nymphalid butterfly was issued by the Bureau of Agriculture in Palau. A copy of the permit was faxed to Dr. de Chenon working on the insect in Indonesia. A copy of the permit was also mailed on the same day. He has not answered the e-mail message and the letter sent. Indonesia was severely hit by the recent earthquake and tsunami and the research station may have been affected by the disaster.

Impacts
Once the biological control agent get established and begin controlling the spread of the mile-a-minute weed, natural vegetation will reappear promoting diversity and environmental health. In cultivated areas, farmlands can be opened again, thereby assuring farmers of increasing farm production and consequently added income to the family.

Publications

  • No publications reported this period