Target Invasive Plants and Biocontrol Agents Undergoing Screening

The BC Ministry of Forests and Range (MFR), through contributed funding, enable research into potential new biocontrol agents for the province on an annual basis. Research on potential biocontrol agents is funded by a consortium of interested partners, that includes Canadian provincial and federal government departments, US county, state and federal agencies, US and Canadian Universities and NGO's. Specific funding and research partners vary with each plant targeted. For prioritization of invasive plants requiring biological control see Priorities for New Biocontrol Agents. For an explanation of the process to attain biological control agents, see Screening Process.

The invasive plants that are targeted by biocontrol consortia in which British Columbia participates and their consortia objectives in 2008/09 are:

Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

Specific objectives: 

  • Conduct field surveys in Europe for potential new biocontrol agents; and
  • Preliminary studies of lifecycle and host range on potential biological control agents during exploration.

Dalmatian and yellow toadflax (Linaria dalmatica and vulgaris)

Specific objectives:  yellow toadflax

  • Conduct studies on interactions between gall forming weevils and genetic variation in toadflax;
  • Continue host range studies with Rhinusa pilosa, stem-galling weevil, focussing on yellow toadflax, and compile information obtained to date; and
  • Continue host preference and start host range studies with M. heydeni (ex L. vulgaris) again, focussing on yellow toadflax.

 

Hawkweed complex (Hieracium spp.)

Specific objectives:

  • Host-specificity screening of the hawkweed root-feeding hover fly, Cheilosia urbana, and the crown-feeding hover fly, Cheilosia psilophthalma (Diptera: Syrphidae); and
  • Conduct survey and exploration for biocontrol agents , as necessary, into previously unsurveyed regions encompassing primarily central and southern Russia, the Ukraine and adjacent areas in eastern Europe. 
yellow hawkweedorange hawkweed  

Knotweed (Fallopia/Polygonum)

Work on this plant is in the initial stages of the screening of North American test-plants. A North American research consortium has formed in which BC is participating. Previously identified knotweed locations in the province have been surveyed and four separate species Japanese (Fallopia japonica or Polygonum cuspidatum), Bohemian (F. bohemica, hybrid), Himalayan (P. polystachyum) and Giant (F. sachaliensis or P. sachalinense) knotweed, have been identified with confirmed mapped locations. Prior to the survey many were identified as Japanese knotweed only.

Specific objectives:

  • Receive, propagate and maintain plant species from Canada for host-range testing. Test candidate agents, including but not limited to Aphalara itadori (sap sucker psyllid) and the leafspot Mycospharella sp. for their ability to feed, reproduce and develop on non-target North American species. (A test plant list of over 50 species has already been proposed for North America); and
  • Test cold tolerance and host selection of and impact on Japanese, Giant and Bohemian knotweeds by Aphalara itadori.
knotweed
 

Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Specific objectives:

  • Preliminary review of literature on potential biological control agents, review of herbarium specimens and development of potential host plant test-list for screening of biocontrol agents; and
  • Investigate field survey requirements for potential select herbivores.

Sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

Specific objectives:

  • Conduct a risk analysis of sulphur cinquefoil including: review the work on biological control to date; assess and quantify risks of available biocontrol agents with available data; and, identify data gaps; and
  • Dependent on the results and review of the risk analysis, conduct additional surveys in the Black Sea area, e.g. Southern Russia, eastern Turkey and the Ukraine, pending the Province’s review of the risk analysis.

Tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)

Specific objectives:

  • Completion of host-range testing on a cold hardy Swiss strain of a Longitarsus jacobaeae, a root-feeding beetle – third of a three year project. A different strain of this agent is already well-established on the lower mainland in BC but has yet to survive a transfer to the more variable seasons experienced in the Okanagan.
Tansy ragwort infestation Tansy ragwort