Yellow Starthistle Fungus

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Yellow Starthistle Fungus

• YST infests 10-15 million acres in California
  alone, and is in 23 other States.
• Five insect biological control agents were
  released from 1984-92 which provide some control.
• A rust fungus, Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis
  was introduced in 204 sites in California from
  2003-06.
• Establishment and impact being evaluated.

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Success Story Saltcedar Biological Control
Consortium

• Biological control beetles initially released in
  1999 at 10 sites in 6 states.
• In 2004 and 2005 202 acres and 444 acres were
  defoliated.
• 2006 Provided over 100,000 saltcedar leaf
  beetles to cooperators in Montana and Wyoming.
• Started four new ARS-managed saltcedar biological
  control research and insectary sites in Montana.

Diorhabda elongata
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Success StorySuccessful Eradication of
Caulerpa taxifolia

• June 2000 Discovered in California waters.
• July 2000 Rapid response plan activated.
• July 2006 Declared eradicated by California
  Department of Fish and Game.

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Success StoryT.A.M.E. Melaleuca

• Over one million biological control agents have
  been released in south Florida
• Melaleuca leaf weevil, Oxyops vitiosa
• Melaleuca psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleucae
• 75,000 acres of Melaleuca have been managed.
• 2005 ARS Award for Excellence in Technology
  Transfer.

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New Program Initiation of Biological Control of
Giant Reed

• Three potential biological control agents from
  Europe
• Shoot-feeding wasp (Tetramesa romana),
• Cane-burrowing fly (Cryptonevra spp.), and
• Rhirzome-infesting scale (Rhizaspidiotus
  donacis).
• Strong support from water and riparian land
  managers, and from the Department of Homeland
  Security.

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Success StoryIntegrated Control of Redvine and
Trumpetcreeper

• Integration of fall deep-tillage and glyphosate
  applications could be an effective strategy to
  manage Redvine, Brunnichia ovata, and
  trumpetcreeper, Campsis radicans, vines in
  glyphosate-resistant soybean.

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New Program Swallow-Worts

• Members of the milkweed family native to Europe.
• Replacing common milkweeds.
• Threat to
• Monarch butterflies,
• reduced-tillage corn and soybean fields, and
• forest regeneration.
• New program underway to find biological control
  agents in Europe.

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How Does ARS Set Priorities?
Executive Branch (Department, other Federal
agencies)
Congress
ARS Program Budgeting Priorities
Agency Scientists Managers
Scientific Community
Customers, Partners, Advisory Boards
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Challenges Ahead

• National Priorities
• Continue to emphasize integrated weed management.
• Conduct single-species workshops (e.g.
  medusahead, kudzu, arundo, saltcedar).
• Budget implications

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