Effectiveness of Zygogramma bicolorata as a biocontrol agent against Parthenium hysterophorus in Arusha, Tanzania

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dc.creatorKanagwa, Warda
dc.creatorKilewa, Ramadhani
dc.creatorTreydte, Anna
dc.date2020-06-15T10:31:41Z
dc.date2020-06-15T10:31:41Z
dc.date2020-06-01
dc.date.accessioned2022-10-25T09:21:07Z
dc.date.available2022-10-25T09:21:07Z
dc.descriptionThis research article published by Taylor & Francis Online, 2020
dc.descriptionParthenium hysterophorus is an invasive weed that poses significant threats to crop production, biodiversity, human and animal health. Few experiments have been carried out to test the effectiveness of biological control agents such as the beetle Zygogramma bicolorata against this invasive. We released Z. bicolorata beetles as bio-agent to control P. hysterophorus at the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute in Arusha, Tanzania, across two seasons, from February – July 2019 (wet) and August 2019 – January 2020 (dry). Feeding by Z. bicolorata reduced P. hysterophorus leaves, flowers, height as well as biomass, both in the dry and wet season. During the wet season, 100% of all P. hysterophorus leaves were eaten already 28 days after the onset of the experiment, particularly under the highest beetle population treatment (30 individuals). Parthenium hysterophorus flower numbers were greatly reduced under high beetle populations (30 individuals) compared to the control treatment (0 individuals) during both the wet and dry season. Parthenium hysterophorus height was reduced by 87% and 90% during the wet and dry season, respectively when 30 beetles were released. Similarly, biomass was reduced by 90% and 87% during the wet and dry season, respectively. Parthenium hysterophorus responses to beetle treatments did not differ significantly across seasons but the development of both the invasive and its control, Z. bicolorata, was slightly delayed in the dry season. We conclude that Z. bicolorata can be used as bio-agent to manage P. hysterophorus in Tanzania, particularly when released in large numbers.
dc.formatapplication/pdf
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2020.1768219
dc.identifierhttps://dspace.nm-aist.ac.tz/handle/20.500.12479/798
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/95446
dc.languageen
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis Online
dc.subjectBiological control
dc.subjectFamine weed
dc.titleEffectiveness of Zygogramma bicolorata as a biocontrol agent against Parthenium hysterophorus in Arusha, Tanzania
dc.typeArticle

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