Speaker: Lisa Tewksbury, Entomologist at the University of Rhode Island
Abstract:
The management of invasive species is a serious problem in the United States. There are over 300 invasive plants in the U.S., presently infesting 100 million acres. Almost all of the plants we designate as "weeds" have been introduced. There are over 1700 introduced insects in the U.S., and 50 percent of these have been identified as pests. Invasive species cause losses of 124 billion dollars annually. Classical biological control, reacquainting natural enemies with introduced pests, is an economical method for managing invasive species, because it provides a permanent solution. Classical biological control involves identifying natural enemies in the introduced pest's native range, determining their impact on the host, and determining the host range of the natural enemies. Lisa will use three examples from the biological control program in Rhode Island to discuss the benefits and limitations of biological control of invasives: lily leaf beetle, purple loosestrife, and phragmites.
Biography:
Lisa graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Plant Sciences, and received an M.S. in Entomology from the University of Delaware. She has been a research associate at the University of Rhode Island since 1985. In 1994 she became manager of the University of Rhode Island Biological Control Lab, where their research focuses on classical biological control. Their current projects include biological control of invasive insects and plants: lily leaf beetle, cypress spurge, purple loosestrife, and common reed.