Teleonemia scrupulosa - Weeds Australia

lantanabiocontrol<strong>Teleonemia</strong> <strong>scrupulosa</strong>LB1August 2003Produced by: Alan Fletcher Research Station© The State of Queensland (Department of Natural Resources and Mines) 2003QNRM03108

TELEONEMIA SCRUPULOSA<strong>Teleonemia</strong> <strong>scrupulosa</strong>, a leaf-sucking bug, is one of the most widespread andseasonally damaging biocontrol agents for lantana.ORIGIN• T. <strong>scrupulosa</strong> occurs naturally in Mexico, Central America and South America.• Laboratory cultures of T. <strong>scrupulosa</strong> originate from Mexico.• The insect was first released in <strong>Australia</strong> in 1936.BIOLOGY• Adults and nymphs suck the cell contents from the undersides of leaves, causing them to brown andwither.• Damaged plants may become severely defoliated and stunted, with fewer flowers and seeds produced.• Development time from egg to adult is about four weeks.• Adults live for about three months.AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION AND IMPACT ON LANTANA• T. <strong>scrupulosa</strong> is found from Cairns to Sydney.• The bug is most abundant and damaging in warm, dry areas such as central and southern Queenslandand central New South Wales.• Populations can increase quickly over the warmer months.• The bug causes the greatest damage from late summer to autumn, when plants can become defoliated.• T. <strong>scrupulosa</strong> is found in greater numbers on the white, red, and pink-edged red-flowering varieties ofLantana camara than on the common pink-flowering variety.#16521 03/03