Prediction of safety and effectiveness of a candidate biocontrol agent : quarantine evaluation of the root-feeding, Mexican flea beetle, Longitarsus bethae, for potential release against the noxious weed, Lantana camara, in Africa

A root-feeding, Mexican flea beetle, Longitarsus bethae Savini & Escalona 2005 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae), was evaluated in quarantine as a candidate biological control agent for the noxious weed, Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae). The premise was that L. bethae would only be released if it could be ascertained that it was: (i) safe for non-target plants; (ii) likely to inflict significant damage on the target weed; and (ii) capable of surviving under the various (abiotic and biotic) environmental conditions in its new range.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

2006

Author dc:creator

• Simelane, David Okhi

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Hoffmann, John
• Urban, A J

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/6190

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/6190