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Author: DeLoach, Culver
Email: jack.deloach@ars.usda.gov
Phone: 254-770-6531
Organization: USDA-ARS
Address:
808 E. Blackland Road,
Temple,
TX,
76502
Abstract Title: PROGRESS IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SALTCEDAR IN TEXAS. C. Jack DeLoach*, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, 808 E. Blackland Road, Temple, Texas 76502; Patrick J. Moran, USDA-ARS, Beneficial Insects Research Unit, 2413 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX 78596; Allen E. Knutson, Texas A&M University Research & Extension Center, 17360 Coit Road, Dallas, TX 75252; Mark Muegge, Texas A&M University, Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Department of Entomology, Airport Drive, P.O. Box 1298, Fort Stockton, TX 79735; Mark Donet, USDA-NRCS, Chihuahuan Desert RC&D, P.O. Box C-61, Alpine, TX 79832; Tyrus Fain, President, Rio Grande Institute, Box 183, Marathon, TX 79842; James H. Everitt, USDA-ARS, Integrated Farming & Natural Resources Research Unit, 2413 E. Highway 83, Weslaco, TX 78596; James L. Tracy, USDA-ARS, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, 808 E. Blackland Road, Temple, Texas 76502 and Thomas O. Robbins, USDA-ARS, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory, 808 E. Blackland Road, Temple, Texas 76502.
Abstract Text: The invasion of exotic saltcedars (Tamarix spp.), small trees from Asia and the Mediterranean area, introduced in the 1800s, is causing great damage to riparian ecosystems in the western half of Texas, other western states, and northern Mexico. These dense thickets displace native plant communities, degrade wildlife and fish habitat (including that of many endangered and rare species), use large quantities of scarce groundwater and stream flow, increase wildfires and soil salinity and reduce recreational values in parks. Conventional controls are expensive, temporary and damage many non-target plants. Biological control is a long used and much proven method ideally adapted to control of exotic weeds in natural areas. In 2001, we released a leaf beetle, Diorhabda spp., from China and Kazakhstan that has been highly successful in defoliating saltcedar over thousands of acres in 4 states north of the 38th parallel but not south of there in TX, NM and southern CA. In 2001, we found different Diorhabda ecotypes from Crete, Greece; Tunisia; Uzbekistan and Turpan, China and tested them at Temple and Albany, CA. We released 500 adults of the Crete ecotype at Big Spring in April 2004 which had defoliated 25 acres of the saltcedar stand within 3 years and by September 2007 had dispersed and defoliated saltcedar for 5 miles along Beals Creek. In the area defoliated 3-4 times annually for 3 years, 20% of the trees have been killed and abundant natural vegetation has returned. These beetles also have been released, and appear to be established and are defoliating saltcedar at other sites from Big Spring to Sweetwater, at Pecos and Imperial, TX and at Artesia, NM and Rumsey, CA. They were released in June 2007 at 7 sites along the Rio Grande of west Texas, and are increasing at some sites.
Conference
Year: TIPPC_2007
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation
Presenter Type (Student or Regular):
Session: 3. Control and Management
Submission Date: 2007-10-15
