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Article: Effects of beetle density and time of day on the dispersal of Gratiana boliviana (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).(Report)
- Article from:
- Florida Entomologist
- Article date:
- March 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 Florida Entomological Society. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Tropical soda apple (TSA), Solanum viarum Dunal, is a noxious weed introduced into Florida from South America in the 1980s (Medal et al. 2002). Because of its large reproductive capability (40,000-50,000 seeds per plant reported by Mullahey et al. 1993 and Pereira et al. 1997) and easy dissemination by cattle and wildlife that ingested the fruits, TSA spread quickly throughout Florida (Medal et al. 2002). TSA has also established in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee (SEEPPC 2008). Infestation by TSA not only reduces suitable grazing land and cattle carrying capacity (Mullahey et al. 1993), they also serve as host plants ...