Classical-biocontrol-success

Guides

• Gratiana boliviana

  Tropical Soda Apple Leaf Beetle, TSA tortoise beetle

  Gratiana boliviana is a tortoise beetle (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) native to South America that was introduced to Florida in 2003 as the first biological control agent against tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum), a prickly invasive shrub. The beetle is highly host-specific and has established successfully in Florida, reducing weed density and fruit production through defoliation. Over 250,000 beetles were released across Florida from 2003 to 2011. The beetle cannot complete development on native North American Solanum species or crop plants like eggplant, making it a relatively safe biocontrol choice. Cold sensitivity limits its northward establishment potential.

  biological-controlinvasive-species-managementtortoise-beetleSolanum-specialistclassical-biocontrol-successFlorida-agricultureweed-biocontrolCassidinaeChrysomelidaeleaf-beetlehost-specificitydiapausepasture-pest-managementSouth-American-nativecold-limited-distribution

• Lilioceris cheni

  air potato leaf beetle

  Lilioceris cheni is a leaf-feeding beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, native to China and Nepal. It was introduced to Florida in 2012 as a classical biological control agent to combat the invasive air potato vine (Dioscorea bulbifera). The beetle has established successfully and is now widely distributed across the southern United States. Mass rearing programs produce over 50,000 beetles annually for release. Both larvae and adults feed on air potato foliage, causing significant damage that reduces vine density and bulbil production.

  biological-controlinvasive-species-managementleaf-beetleDioscoreaclassical-biocontrol-success