Highlighting and Fostering International Collaborations that Enhance Weed Biocontrol in North America

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NAISMA’s virtual Classical Weed Biocontrol Summit, Highlighting and Fostering International Collaborations that Enhance Weed Biocontrol in North America, took place on December 2, 2021, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT.

The Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit communicates the latest information in weed biocontrol research to North American invasive plant managers, educators, and researchers.

In 2021, we focused on international collaborations, which are a critical component in developing weed biocontrol opportunities for our most troublesome weeds. Without foreign exploration and research and development through international collaborations, weed biocontrol simply would not exist. This year we will hear from international partners spanning five continents that help make biocontrol a readily available weed management tool for North America.  

Photos courtesy Montana Biocontrol Project.

Summit Agenda

2 December 2021, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. CT

11:00-11:05    Introduction, acknowledgment statement, housekeeping

11:05-11:30    Hariet Hinz, Switzerland

11:30-11:55    René Sforza, France

11:55-12:20    Massimo Cristofaro, Italy

12:20-12:40    Iain Paterson, South Africa

12:40-1:05    Guillermo Cabrera Walsh, Argentina

1:05-1:15    Break

1:15-1:40    Marcelo Diniz Vitorino, Brazil

1:40-2:05      Rose De Clerck-Floate, Canada and Mark Schwarzlaender, Idaho, United States

2:05-2:30        Darcy Oishi and Tracy Johnson, Hawaii, United States

2:30-2:55        Matthew Purcell, Australia

2:55- 3:00       Closing

Summit Details

Hariet L. Hinz

CABI Switzerland

• Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia)
• Russian knapweed (Rhaponticum repens)
• Hoary cress (Lepidium draba)
• Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium)
• Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
• Common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)
• Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)
• Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
• Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus)
• Common reed (Phragmites australis)
• Swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.)
• Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)

René F.H. Sforza

USDA-ARS-European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL), France

• Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)
• Swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.)
• French broom (Genista monspessulana)

Massimo Cristofaro

Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA), Italy

• Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
• Rush skeletonweed (Chondrilla juncea)
• Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
• Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae)
• Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) 
• Giant reed (Arundo donax)

Iain Paterson

Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, South Africa

Species native to South Africa of importance to North America

• Crystalline ice-plant (Cryophyton crystallinum)
• Guinea grass (Megathyrus maximum)
• Cape-ivy (Delairea odorata)

Species native to North America of importance to South Africa

• Prickly-pear cactus (Opuntia engelmannii)
• Mesquite (Prosopis sp.)
• Yellow water-lily (Nymphaea mexicana)

Species of joint interest

• Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes)
• Giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
• Common salvinia (Salvinia minima)
• Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)

Guillermo Cabrera Walsh Sc.D.

Foundation for the Study of Invasive Species [Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI)], Argentina

• Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes)
• Water primroses (Ludwigia spp.)
• Parrot’s feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)

Prof. Dr. Marcelo Diniz Vitorino

Department of Forestry Postgraduate Program in Forest Engineering, Forest Monitoring and Protection Laboratory, and Regional University of Blumenau, Brazil

• Strawberry guava (Psidium cattleianum)
• Brazilian peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia)
• Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum)
• Velvet tree/bush currant(Miconia calvescens)
• Princess flower(Tibouchina urvilleana) 

Rose De Clerck-Floate

Invasive Plant Biological Control, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Mark Schwarzländer

Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, United States

• Mogulones crucifer (houndstongue): a cross-border social dilemma and opportunity for research collaboration
• Status of nontarget monitoring and USA petition for release of M. crucifer, with lessons learned for weed biological control

Darcy Oishi

Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Plant Pest Control Branch, Hawaii

Tracy Johnson

US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Hawaii

• Devil weed (Chromolaena odorata)
• Brazilian peppertree/Christmasberry (Schinus terebinthifolius)
• Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
• Albizia/Batai wood (Falcataria moluccana)
• Madagascar fireweed (Senecio madagascariensis)
• Kahili ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)
• African tuliptree (Spathodea campanulata)

Matthew Purcell

USDA ARS Australian Biological Control Laboratory, Australia

• Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia)
• Old world climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum)
• Australian pine (Casuarina spp.)
• Downy rose myrtle (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa)
• Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata)
• Mosquitofern (Azolla pinnata)
• Earleaf acacia (Acacia auriculiformis)
• Floating hearts (Nymphoides spp)