The phytophagous insects on lantana in brazil and their potential for biological control in Australia

Abstract

A ten‐year survey of phytophagous insects associated with Lantana spp. (chiefly L. tiliaefolia Cham, and L. glutinosa Poepp.) in Brazil, yielded 345 species from eight orders. Half of the total species collected were Coleoptera, with Chrysomelidae being the most important family. Other important families were the Curculionidae and, in the Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Arctiidae and Noctuidae. More than 90% of insect species fed on the vegetative parts of the plant, with almost two‐thirds of these chewing holes in leaves, and fewer than 10% attacking the flowers and fruits. Woody stem borers were rare, constituting only 2% of the total insect species collected. The present status of biological control of lantana in Australia is reviewed together with the prospects of importing further biological control candidates from Brazil.