TY  - JOUR
AU  - Marini, Francesca
AU  - Profeta, Erica
AU  - Vidović, Biljana
AU  - Petanović, Radmila
AU  - de Lillo, Enrico
AU  - Weyl, Philip
AU  - Hinz, Hariet L.
AU  - Moffat, Chandra E.
AU  - Bon, Marie-Claude
AU  - Cvrković, Tatjana
AU  - Kashefi, Javid
AU  - Sforza, René F. H.
AU  - Cristofaro, Massimo
PY  - 2021
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/5906
AB  - Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China, considered a serious invasive species worldwide, with several socio-economic and ecological impacts attributed to it. Chemical and mechanical methods have limited efficacy in its management, and biological controls may offer a suitable and sustainable option. Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka) is an eriophyid mite that has been recorded to attack tree of heaven in 13 European countries. This study aims to explore the host range of this mite by exposing 13 plant species, selected either for their phylogenetic and ecological similarity to the target weed or their economic importance. Shortly after inoculation with the mite, we recorded a quick decrease in mite number on all nontarget species and no sign of mite reproduction. Whereas, after just one month, the population of mites on tree of heaven numbered in the thousands, irrespective of the starting population, and included both adults and juveniles. Significantly, we observed evidence of damage due to the mite only on target plants. Due to the specificity, strong impact on the target, and the ability to increase its population to high levels in a relatively short amount of time, we find A. mosoniensis to be a very promising candidate for the biological control of tree of heaven.
PB  - MDPI AG
T2  - Insects
T1  - Field Assessment of the Host Range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)
IS  - 7
SP  - 637
VL  - 12
DO  - 10.3390/insects12070637
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Marini, Francesca and Profeta, Erica and Vidović, Biljana and Petanović, Radmila and de Lillo, Enrico and Weyl, Philip and Hinz, Hariet L. and Moffat, Chandra E. and Bon, Marie-Claude and Cvrković, Tatjana and Kashefi, Javid and Sforza, René F. H. and Cristofaro, Massimo",
year = "2021",
abstract = "Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China, considered a serious invasive species worldwide, with several socio-economic and ecological impacts attributed to it. Chemical and mechanical methods have limited efficacy in its management, and biological controls may offer a suitable and sustainable option. Aculus mosoniensis (Ripka) is an eriophyid mite that has been recorded to attack tree of heaven in 13 European countries. This study aims to explore the host range of this mite by exposing 13 plant species, selected either for their phylogenetic and ecological similarity to the target weed or their economic importance. Shortly after inoculation with the mite, we recorded a quick decrease in mite number on all nontarget species and no sign of mite reproduction. Whereas, after just one month, the population of mites on tree of heaven numbered in the thousands, irrespective of the starting population, and included both adults and juveniles. Significantly, we observed evidence of damage due to the mite only on target plants. Due to the specificity, strong impact on the target, and the ability to increase its population to high levels in a relatively short amount of time, we find A. mosoniensis to be a very promising candidate for the biological control of tree of heaven.",
publisher = "MDPI AG",
journal = "Insects",
title = "Field Assessment of the Host Range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)",
number = "7",
pages = "637",
volume = "12",
doi = "10.3390/insects12070637"
}

Marini, F., Profeta, E., Vidović, B., Petanović, R., de Lillo, E., Weyl, P., Hinz, H. L., Moffat, C. E., Bon, M., Cvrković, T., Kashefi, J., Sforza, R. F. H.,& Cristofaro, M.. (2021). Field Assessment of the Host Range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). in Insects
MDPI AG., 12(7), 637.
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070637

Marini F, Profeta E, Vidović B, Petanović R, de Lillo E, Weyl P, Hinz HL, Moffat CE, Bon M, Cvrković T, Kashefi J, Sforza RFH, Cristofaro M. Field Assessment of the Host Range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). in Insects. 2021;12(7):637.
doi:10.3390/insects12070637 .

Marini, Francesca, Profeta, Erica, Vidović, Biljana, Petanović, Radmila, de Lillo, Enrico, Weyl, Philip, Hinz, Hariet L., Moffat, Chandra E., Bon, Marie-Claude, Cvrković, Tatjana, Kashefi, Javid, Sforza, René F. H., Cristofaro, Massimo, "Field Assessment of the Host Range of Aculus mosoniensis (Acari: Eriophyidae), a Biological Control Agent of the Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima)" in Insects, 12, no. 7 (2021):637,
https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12070637 . .

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Smith, Lincoln
AU  - Cristofaro, Massimo
AU  - Bon, Marie-Claude
AU  - De Biase, Alessio
AU  - Petanović, Radmila
AU  - Vidović, Biljana
PY  - 2018
UR  - http://aspace.agrif.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/4789
AB  - Classical biological control of weeds depends on finding agents that are highly host-specific. This requires not only correctly understanding the identity of the target plant, sometimes to subspecific levels, in order to find suitable agents, but also identifying agents that are sufficiently specific to be safe and effective. Behavioral experiments and molecular genetic tools have revealed that some arthropod species previously thought to be polyphagous really consist of multiple cryptic species, host races or biotypes, some of which are more host-specific than others. Whereas true species are reproductively isolated, individuals from subspecific populations may potentially interbreed with those of other populations if they should encounter them. Furthermore, biotypes may consist of individuals sharing a genotype that is not fixed within a monophyletic group, and thus may not be evolutionarily stable. This raises the question of how such populations should be classified, and how to confirm the identity of live arthropods before releasing them as classical biological control agents. The existence of host races or cryptic species may greatly increase the number of prospective biological control agents available. However, it may also create new challenges for governmental regulation. These issues are discussed using pertinent examples, mainly from North America.
PB  - Springer, Dordrecht
T2  - Biocontrol
T1  - The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective
EP  - 425
IS  - 3
SP  - 417
VL  - 63
DO  - 10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z
ER  - 

@article{
author = "Smith, Lincoln and Cristofaro, Massimo and Bon, Marie-Claude and De Biase, Alessio and Petanović, Radmila and Vidović, Biljana",
year = "2018",
abstract = "Classical biological control of weeds depends on finding agents that are highly host-specific. This requires not only correctly understanding the identity of the target plant, sometimes to subspecific levels, in order to find suitable agents, but also identifying agents that are sufficiently specific to be safe and effective. Behavioral experiments and molecular genetic tools have revealed that some arthropod species previously thought to be polyphagous really consist of multiple cryptic species, host races or biotypes, some of which are more host-specific than others. Whereas true species are reproductively isolated, individuals from subspecific populations may potentially interbreed with those of other populations if they should encounter them. Furthermore, biotypes may consist of individuals sharing a genotype that is not fixed within a monophyletic group, and thus may not be evolutionarily stable. This raises the question of how such populations should be classified, and how to confirm the identity of live arthropods before releasing them as classical biological control agents. The existence of host races or cryptic species may greatly increase the number of prospective biological control agents available. However, it may also create new challenges for governmental regulation. These issues are discussed using pertinent examples, mainly from North America.",
publisher = "Springer, Dordrecht",
journal = "Biocontrol",
title = "The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective",
pages = "425-417",
number = "3",
volume = "63",
doi = "10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z"
}

Smith, L., Cristofaro, M., Bon, M., De Biase, A., Petanović, R.,& Vidović, B.. (2018). The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective. in Biocontrol
Springer, Dordrecht., 63(3), 417-425.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z

Smith L, Cristofaro M, Bon M, De Biase A, Petanović R, Vidović B. The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective. in Biocontrol. 2018;63(3):417-425.
doi:10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z .

Smith, Lincoln, Cristofaro, Massimo, Bon, Marie-Claude, De Biase, Alessio, Petanović, Radmila, Vidović, Biljana, "The importance of cryptic species and subspecific populations in classic biological control of weeds: a North American perspective" in Biocontrol, 63, no. 3 (2018):417-425,
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10526-017-9859-z . .