Release and Persistence of the Brazilian Peppertree Biological Control Agent Pseudophilothrips ichini (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) in Florida

Abstract

Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), is an invasive weed of natural and agricultural areas of California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, USA. A thrips, Pseudophilothrips ichini (Hood) (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae), was permitted and released in 2019 as the first biological control agent for this invasive weed in Florida, USA. The thrips feeds on flushing leaves that are produced during the vegetative season of the host. Together, the USDA-ARS, University of Florida, and Florida Department of Food and Consumer Services combined efforts to mass produce and release P. ichini throughout the Brazilian peppertree-invaded range in Florida. Between May 2019 and Dec 2021, more than 2 million P. ichini were released at 567 sites in Florida. Over this period, P. ichini persisted at up to 60% of the survey sites for at least 1 generation as indicated by recovery of thrips adults at least 60 d after release. These results indicate that this thrips, a classical biological control agent, has persisted in the invaded range of Brazilian peppertree in Florida with populations evident at many release sites. This biological control agent will provide land managers with a safe and cost-effective means of controlling Brazilian peppertree.