Julio Medal1, Bill Overholt1, Nikary Bustamante1,

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Implementation of Biological Control of Tropical
Soda Apple
Julio Medal1, Bill Overholt1, Nikary
Bustamante1, Rodrigo Díaz1, Philip Stansly1, Amy
Roda2, Divina Amalin2 Richard Gaskalla3, Ken
Hibbard3, Brent Sellers1, Stephen Hight4, James
Cuda1 1University of Florida 2USDA-APHIS 3FDACS-D
PI 4USDA-ARS
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Tropical Soda Apple, Solanum viarum (Family
Solanaceae)
-Native to South America (Brazil, Argentina,
Paraguay) -First found in Florida in 1988 -gt1
million acres in 11 states
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States infested (green) with Tropical Soda Apple
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Osceola County
Hendry County
Argentina
Brazil
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Gratiana boliviana
Adult Egg Larva Pupa
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Florida counties where beetles have been released
(green)
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Okeechobee County
June 02, 2005Beetles Released
July 7, 2005After Beetles Released
August 23, 2007 After Beetles Released
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Polk County
May 2003
June 2007
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Sumter County
August 15, 2005Before Beetles Released
August 14, 2007After BeetlesReleased
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Sumter County
June 2007
June 2006
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Okeechobee County
May 18, 2006Beetles Released
August 23, 2007After Beetles Released
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Post Release Evaluations in Florida
-Monitoring -Mark plants and quadrants at each
location -Changes in the target weed and
Biocontrol agent recorded
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Additional Biocontrol Agents Metriona elatior
Adult Eggs Larva
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Additional Biocontrol Agents Gratiana graminea
Adult Egg Larva Pupa
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Additional Biocontrol Agents Anthonomus
tenebrosus
Egg
Adult
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Open Field Experiment in Brazil with Platyphora
sp. (Family Chrysomelidae)
Platyphora sp.
TSA, eggplant, potato,pepper, tomato
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Brazilian Collaborators
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Plans For 2008

• Increase Beetle Production
• Additional Field Releases
• Continue Post-Release Evaluations
• Conclude Field-Tests in Brazil with an additional
  Agent (Platyphora sp.)

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