BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF EARLEAF ACACIA (ACACIA AURICULIFORMIS) IN FLORIDA

Objective 1: Continue biology studies, including diapause investigations, and host range testing of Calomela beetle populations. Objective 2: Definitively identify Trichologaster sp. and Dasineura sp. Objective 3: Conduct longitudinal transect of Acacia auriculiformis range in northwestern Northern Territory with cooperation from Parks Australia and Australian Biological Control Laboratory (ABCL). Objective 4: Ship, curate and colonize Trichologaster sp. and Macrobathra leucozancla from established colonies at ABCL, Australia to Invasive Plant Research Laboratory (IPRL) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Indian River Research and Education Center (UF-IFAS IRREC) in Fort Pierce, Florida. Objective 5: Continue host-range examinations potential biological control agents at USDA-ARS IRPL and UF-IFAS IRREC, splitting the host test plant list.