[MAIPC] FW: euonymus fortunei wintercreeper biological control

[Marc Imlay]

Is there any update on biological control of Wintercreeper since 2009?

Marc Imlay, PhD, 

Chair, MAIPC Biological Control Working Group 

https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html

Biological control: Biological control of invasive species has a long
history that indicates many factors must be considered before using
biological controls. Refer to these sources: [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#71> 71,
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#75> 75] and
the  <http://www.invasive.org/gist/handbook.html> Weed control methods
handbook [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#65> 65] for
background information and important considerations for developing and
implementing biological control programs.

As of this writing (2009), no effective biological controls were known for
winter creeper. However, winter creeper is one of the top 10 invasive plants
of Asian origin in the United States that is being studied for future
biological control opportunities, and scientists are looking for
host-specific natural enemies in China [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#16> 16].
Dirr [ <https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#17>
17] lists several diseases and insects that impact winter creeper in North
America. It is especially susceptible to damage and mortality from the Asian
euonymus scale (Unaspis euonymi), which is not native to but does occur in
North America [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#70> 70].
The euonymus scale has been lethal to winter creeper on many plantings,
especially those containing the cultivars 'Vegetus', 'Coloratus', and
Euonymus tree species such as European spindletree (E. europaeus),
winterberry euonymus (E. bungeanus), and Hamilton's spindletree (E.
hamiltonianus subsp. sieboldianus) (review by [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#17> 17]).
This same scale is also showing up on native Euonymus species, burningbush
(E. atropurpurea) and bursting-heart (E. americanus), and it is causing
mortality in populations of Canby's mountain-lover (Paxistima canbyi), a
rare subshrub, in Kentucky (personal communication [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#63> 63]).
At least 5 organisms (2 insect predators and 3 aphelinid parasitoids) have
been collected in Asia and released in southern New England as biological
control agents against the euonymus scale. Releases were made in
Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island on winter creeper and European
spindletree plants infested with medium to large populations of euonymus
scale in urban and suburban locations from 1991 to 1995 [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#70> 70].

Intense seasonal browsing with domestic goats and/or sheep is being
investigated as a potential control for winter creeper in Kentucky. This
approach shows some promise because winter creeper is reportedly a frequent
favorite for most livestock under the right conditions, and it is much
browsed by white-tailed deer in the winter (personal communication [
<https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/vine/euofor/all.html#9> 9]).

 

 



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