]

About SPC: Home; Who we are

News: Mass rearing in the laboratory

Mikania Biocontrol: Home; Project background; Mikania micrantha; Actinote spp.; Puccinia spegazzinii; Monitoring; Publications; Mikania Project Staff; Links

For more information, contact the Project Leader:

Warea Orapa
Plant Health Coordinator
Land Resources Division
SPC, Private Mail Bag,
Suva, Fiji Islands
Tel.: +679 3370733
Fax: +679 3370021

© Copyright SPC

Biological control of mile-a-minute weed (Mikania micrantha) in Fiji and Papua New Guinea

ACIAR Project CP/2004/064

This project aims to reduce the negative impacts of the invasive weed Mikania micrantha (mile-a-minute) through classical biological control. The biocontrol agents being used are the caterpillars Actinote thalia pyrrha and the rust fungus Puccinia spegazzinii.

The three-year project, which began in July 2006, encompasses the implementation of host-specificity testing, importation, mass rearing, release and monitoring of the biocontrol agents in Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Community education and awareness-raising on biological control in general and of M. micrantha in particular will also be carried out.

The invasive neotropical weed Mikania micrantha, shown here in flower.

The project is supported by majority funding from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) with significant support from the European Union, AusAID and NZAID.

The project is implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in collaboration with the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture, PNG research agencies (NARI, CCI and OPRA) and the Queensland Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water.