oa African Entomology - Insect herbivores on the exotic weeds Solanum elaeagnifolium Cavanilles and S. sisymbriifolium Lamarck (Solanaceae) in South Africa
In South Africa, the weeds Solanum elaeagnifolium Cavanilles and S. sisymbriifolium Lamarck (Solanaceae) sustain little observable damage from herbivorous insects. Relatively few insect species occur on these plants and at low individual densities. Since native insects are not important in the natural control of S. elaeagnifolium and S. sisymbriifolium, additional agents should be imported for the biological control of these weeds. The absence of important local herbivores means that the possibility of interaction between these and potential biological control agents need not be a consideration in choosing the agents. The nature and numbers of the insect herbivores of S. elaeagnifolium and S. sisymbriifolium are compared with those on another solanaceous weed, S. mauritianum Scopoli, and on native Solanum species. These insect species are discussed relative to plant defence mechanisms.
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