Establishment and rapid spread of the bitou seed fly, Mesoclanis polana Munro (Diptera: Tephritidae), in eastern Australia |
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| Authors: | Penelope B Edwards Royce H Holtkamp & Robin J Adair |
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| Institution: | CRC for Weed Management Systems, CSIRO Entomology, PMB 44, Winnellie, NT 0822, Australia (Email:;., CRC for Weed Management Systems, NSW Agriculture, RMB 944 Calala Lane, Tamworth, NSW 2340, Australia.,;CRC for Weed Management Systems, Keith Turnbull Research Institute, PO Box 48, Frankston, Vic. 3199, Australia. |
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| Abstract: | The establishment and spread of the seed fly Mesoclanis polana Munro, an introduced biological control agent for Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) Norlindh, is described. From an initial release of 124 adult flies in August 1996, the species occupied virtually the entire range of bitou bush by October 1998, from Rainbow Beach in the north to Tathra in the south, a distance of over 1200 km. Early data on abundance are provided. |
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| Keywords: | bitou bush Chrysanthemoides monilifera Mesoclanis polana Tephritidae weed biological control |
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