The South American Biological Control Laboratory (SABCL) was
settled in Argentina in 1962 for the study of insects to control alligator weed in the United
States. The success achieved in the reduction of the weed
by use of three insects from Argentina motivated the commencement of the second
project, Waterhyacinth. This aquatic weed
was partially controlled in some areas of the south east by
the utilization of two weevils and one moth from Argentina. These insects are
now in most tropical places around the world in which Waterhyacinth
is a
problem.
In 1967, several native rangeland weeds
in the United States
were selected as targets for biocontrol and exploration for natural enemies
started in Argentina where congeneric plants occur. Due
to conflict of interests in the control of native plants in the
United States, the research programs
at SABCL were reoriented
in 1994.
Other past
projects conducted at the SABCL included the following
targets: dung and filth flies,
bitterweed, creosotebush, snakeweeds, tarbush, whitebrush, baloonwine,
cocklebur, horsenettle, morningglories, nutsedges, sicklepod, velvetleaf,
Azolla, groundsel, musk thistle, rush skeletonweed,
and Parkinsonia.
At present, projects include insect pests
and weeds with cooperators in the
United States designated by the National Program Staff,
Dr. Kevin Hackett.
Cooperative agreements
exist with the Plant Protection
Research Institute (PPRI), South Africa and with the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Australia. A
total of 23 organisms for biocontrol have been developed by SABCL staff and
field released in the United States, Australia, South Africa and other countries;
several other organisms are still in quarantine for further research
(see below).
SABCL is operated by
the USDA-ARS-National Program
Staff, Beltsville, MD, and supervised by Dr.
Daniel Strickman, National Program Leader for Veterinary and Medical Entomology. Local support is provided by the American Embassy at Buenos
Aires, including the Foreign Agriculture Service and David Mergen, Agricultural
Counselor.
CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF ORGANISMS DEVELOPED FOR BIOCONTROL AT SABCL:
THEIR TARGETS AND FIRST FIELD RELEASE
Agasicles hygrophila,
alligatorweed, California, Florida, South Carolina,
1964
Aminothrips andersonii,
alligatorweed,
Florida, 1967
Orthogalumna terebrantis,
waterhyacinth, Florida, 1968
(accidental release?)
Arcolla (=Vogtia) malloi, alligatorweed,
Florida, Georgia,
1971
Neochetina eichorniae, waterhyacinth, Florida,
1972
Neochetina bruchi, waterhyacinth, Florida, 1974
Niphograpta (=Sameodes) albiguttalis,
waterhyacinth, Florida, 1977
Disonycha argentinensis, alligatorweed,
Australia, 1980
Xubida (=Acigona) infusella,
waterhyacinth, Australia, 1981
Neohydronomus affinis,
waterlettuce, Florida, 1987
Heilipodus ventralis,
snakeweed, Texas, New Mexico, 1988
Ontherus sulcator, dung, Texas, 1992?
Gromphas lacordairei, dung, Texas, 1992?
Penthobruchus germaini, retama, Australia,
1995
Thelohania solenopsae,
imported fire ants, Florida, 1996 (accidental release?)
Evippe sp., mesquite, Australia,
1998
Prosopidopsilla flava, Australia,
1998
Pseudacteon curvatus (biotype
Buenos Aires), imported fire ants, Florida, 2000
Pseudacteon curvatus (biotype Formosa),
imported fire ants, Florida, 2003
Pseudacteon tricuspis, imported
fire ants, Florida, 2003
Gratiana boliviana, tropical soda apple, Florida,
2003
Pseudacteon litoralis, imported fire ants, Florida,
2004
Pseudacteon obtusus, imported fire ants, Florida, 2008
OTHER BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS DEVELOPED AT SABCL
AND RECENTLY SHIPPED TO QUARANTINE: THEIR TARGETS AND
QUARANTINE LOCATION
Gonatocerus tuberculifemur, glassy-winged
sharpshooter, Mission, Texas
Gonatocerus metanotalis, glassy-winged
sharpshooter, Mission, Texas
Gonatocerus sp. 6 , glassy-winged
sharpshooter, Mission, Texas
Pseudacteon nocens, imported fire ants, Gainesville,
Florida
Pseudacteon cultellatus, imported fire ants, Gainesville,
Florida
Vairimorpha invictae, imported fire ants, Gainesville,
Florida
Coelocephalapion gandolfoi, mesquite, Pretoria, South
Africa
Megamelus scutellaris, waterhyacinth, Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida
Cissoanthonomus tuberculipennis, balloon vine, Pretoria, South
Africa
Apocnemidophorus blandus,
Brazilian pepper, UF, Gainesville,
Florida
Chlorosteymon simaethis,
balloon vine, Pretoria, South
Africa
Liothrips sp., pompom weed, Hilton, South
Africa
Cochylis n. sp., pompom weed, Hilton, South
Africa
Adaina sp., pompom weed, Hilton, South
Africa
Clinodiplosis alternantherae, alligatorweed, Brisbane, Australia
Hydrotimetes natans, fanwort, Brisbane, Australia
Thrypticus truncatus, waterhyacinth, Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida
Taosa sp., waterhyacinth, Ft. Lauderdale,
Florida
