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Wildland Weeds SPRING 2005 SPRING 2005 Prsrt std U.S. Postage PAID Gainesville, FL Permit No. 726 Wildland Weeds
Wildland WeedsSPRING 2005SPRING 2005
Prsrt stdU.S. Postage
PAID
Gainesville, FLPermit No. 726
Wildland Weeds
Direct all editorial and advertising inquiries to:Karen Brown, EditorWildland Weeds7922 NW 71st StreetGainesville, FL 32653352/392-1799; FAX 352/[email protected]
Editorial Committee:Mike BodleKathy Craddock BurksJim CudaTom FucignaKen Langeland
Direct address changes to:Jackie SmithDEP - Invasive Plant Management9737 Gumbo Limbo LaneJensen Beach, FL 34957561/[email protected]
WILDLAND WEEDS 3
FLORIDA EXOTIC PEST PLANT COUNCIL – www.fleppc.org
An exotic plant has been introduced to Florida, either purposefully or accidentally,
from a natural range outside of Florida. A naturalized exotic plant is one that
sustains itself outside of cultivation (it is still exotic; it has not “become” native).
An invasive exotic plant not only has become naturalized, but it is expanding its
range in Florida plant communities.
Wildland Weeds (ISSN 1524-9786) is published quarterly by the Florida Exotic
Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) and the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council
(SE-EPPC) to provide a focus for the issues and for information on exotic pest
plant biology, distribution and control.
The mission of the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council is tosupport the management of invasive exotic plants in Florida’snatural areas by providing a forum for the exchange of scientific,educational and technical information.
Wildland WeedsWildland WeedsSPRING 2005, VOLUME 8, NUMBER 2
On the Cover: Not all exotic pests are weeds. Here, a Burmesepython loses a battle with an American alligator in the FloridaEverglades National Park. Photo by Mike Mercier. Visit his wildlife photography website at http://www.wildphotoguy.com/photoshoot.htm
The Exotic Pest Plant Council has not tested any of the products advertised or referred to in this publication,nor has it verified any of the statements made in any of the advertisements or articles. The Council does not warrant, expressly or implied, the fitness of any product advertised or the suitability of any advice orstatements contained herein.
Officers
Jim Burney, Chair Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.561/[email protected]
Dianne Owen, SecretaryFlorida Atlantic [email protected]
Kristina Kay Serbesoff-King,TreasurerThe Nature [email protected]
Karen Brown, EditorUniversity of FloridaCenter for Aquatic
& Invasive Plants352/[email protected]
Mike Bodle, Immediate Past ChairSouth Florida Water
Management District561/[email protected]
Directors
Roger Clark (1st year)Lee County Parks & Recreation239/[email protected]
Drew Leslie (1st year)Florida DEP Bureau of Invasive
Plant Management850/[email protected]
Cressida Silvers (1st year)USDA/ARS954/475-0541 ext. [email protected]
Jim Duquesnel (1st year)Florida Park Service305/[email protected]
Robert Egan (2nd year)Habitat Restoration Resources239/[email protected]
Amy Ferriter (2nd year)South Florida Water
Management District561/[email protected]
Matthew King (2nd year)Palm Beach County561/[email protected]
Chris Lockhart (2nd year)Habitat Specialists, Inc.561/[email protected]
Committee Chairs
By-lawsDennis Giardina941/[email protected]
CAST RepresentativeDennis GiardinaKen Langeland (alternate)
EditorialKaren Brown
EducationLeesa SoutoStormwater ManagementAcademy321/[email protected]
FNGA/FLEPPC LiaisonDoria GordonUniversity of FloridaThe Nature Conservancy352/[email protected] MillerSt. Johns River WaterManagement [email protected]
LegislativeMatthew King
Local ArrangementsMike Bodle
MembershipKaty Roberts727/[email protected]
MerchandiseTony PernasFlorida Caribbean Exotic
Plant Management TeamSouth Florida Ecosystem Office305/[email protected]
NominationsMike Bodle
OutreachTom FucignaCZR Inc.561/[email protected]
Plant ListKathy Craddock BurksFlorida Natural Areas
Inventory850/224-8207 Ext. [email protected]
Program ChairDaniel ClarkFlorida/Caribbean Exotic Plant
Management Team340/693-8950 x [email protected]
ResearchJohn VolinFlorida Atlantic University954/[email protected]
TrainingJim Duquesnel
VendorsScott DitmarsenDow AgroSciences813/[email protected]
WebmasterTony Pernas
Work Groups
Australian PineRobert Egan
Brazilian PepperJim CudaUniversity of FloridaEntomology Department352/392-1901 Ext. [email protected]
CarrotwoodChris Lockhart
DioscoreaMike Bodle
GrassesGreg MacDonaldUniversity of FloridaAgronomy Department352/392-1811 Ext. [email protected]
LygodiumAmy Ferriter/Tom Fucigna
SkunkvineBrian NelsonSWFWMDBrooksville, FL 34609-6899352/[email protected]
Chinese TallowDrew Leslie
MelaleucaFrancois LarocheSouth Florida Water
Management District561/[email protected]
SOUTHEAST EXOTICPEST PLANT COUNCILwww.se-eppc.orgOfficers
PresidentBrian Bowen Tennessee Dept Environment
and Conservation Division of Natural Heritage 615/[email protected]
Vice President Joyce Bender Kentucky State Nature
Preserves Commission 502/573-2886 [email protected]
SecretaryKristen Gounaris Allen Richmond National
Battlefield Park 804/795-5019 [email protected]
TreasurerTony Pernas, Florida EPPC
SE-EPPC Chapters andRegional Organizations:
AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaKentuckyMid-AtlanticMississippiNew EnglandNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina TennesseeUSDA-Forest Service
Table of Contents4 Editor’s Note
5 Letter to the Editorby Dennis Teague
6 Snakes, Snails, and Puppy Dog Tails:Lygodium with Teeth, by Amy FerriterExotic South American Snail Occurs in Florida WatersEvil Weevils, by Heidi Aspen Rhoades
11 The Power of Partnerships – Island Styleby Alison Higgins
15 In Memorium: Mark Conrad Zeller by Greg Jubinsky and Drew Leslie
17 Cogongrass: An Increasing Threat to South Georgiaby Christopher Evans
21 Internodes
Design by JS Design Studio. Printing by StorterChilds,
Gainesville, FL.
4 SPRING 2005
Dear Readers,
Allow me to introduce you to the FLEPPC Officers and Board of Directors. Although we’re all posted on the masthead of eachissue, that doesn’t tell you much about the expert group of folks who serve voluntarily as your council representatives. In the next issue,I’ll introduce you to the Chairs of the Committees and Work Groups. All of us will be at the 20th Annual FLEPPC Symposium in KeyWest on May 9-11. Please be there—we’d love to meet you personally.
Karen Brown, Editor
Meet the FLEPPC Officers and Board of Directors
editor’s note
Roger Clark works as Land Stewardship Managerfor Lee County. He has a Bachelor of Science degreein Wildlife Biology from North Carolina StateUniversity.
Drew Leslie is a Biological Scientist at the FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protection, Bureau ofInvasive Plant Management. He has a Master ofScience degree in Ichthyology from Florida State
University. Drew also plays guitar in the rock and roll band, The Weeds.
Cressida Silvers earned a Master’s degree inEntomology from the University of California,Riverside in 2000. She is the Project Coordinator ofTAME Melaleuca for USDA-ARS.
Jim Duquesnel is a Biological Scientist with theFlorida Department of Environmental Protection.He is a park biologist at John Pennekamp CoralReef State Park and Dagny Johnson Key Largo
Hammock Botanical State Park. Jim has a Bachelor of Sciencedegree in Marine Science from Richard Stockton College.
Rob Egan is Vice President of Habitat RestorationResources, Inc. He attended the school of hardknocks and ‘specializes in really cool heavymachinery.’
Amy Ferriter received her Master’s degree inGeography from Florida Atlantic University in1993. She is a Senior Environmental Scientist at theSouth Florida Water Management District where
she works in the Vegetation Management Division of theOperations and Maintenance Department.
Matthew King is an Environmental ProgramSupervisor at Palm Beach County Department ofEnvironmental Resources Management. He has aBachelor’s degree in Biological Science from Florida
State University. He also is a Certified Arborist with theInternational Society of Arboriculture.
Chris Lockhart has a Master’s degree in BiologicalSciences from Florida Atlantic University, with anemphasis in Botany. She is president of HabitatSpecialists, Inc., and is the Lygodium Specialist for
the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI).
Jim Burney is the Chairman of the Board. He has aMaster’s degree in Biological Sciences from theUniversity of Central Florida and is certified as aProfessional Wetland Scientist by the Society of
Wetland Scientists. He is president of Aquatic Vegetation Control, Inc.
Dianne Owen is the Secretary. She received herPhD in Biochemistry from the University ofLausanne in Switzerland in 1983. She now works asa Research Associate in Biological Sciences at
Florida Atlantic University.
Kristina Serbesoff-King is the Treasurer. She has aMaster’s degree in Environmental Studies fromFlorida International University, and is the InvasiveSpecies Coordinator for the Florida Chapter of The
Nature Conservancy.
Karen Brown, the editor, has a Master’s degree inLibrary and Information Science from the Universityof South Florida. She is a Coordinator of EducationalMedia/ Communications at the University of Florida’s
IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants.
Mike Bodle is the Immediate Past Chair. He is aSenior Environmental Scientist at the South FloridaWater Management District where he works in theVegetation Management Division of the Operations
and Maintenance Department. Mike has a Master’s Degree inBiology from Notre Dame University.
Officers
Board of Directors
Dear Editor,
Recently Japanese climbing fern (Lygodiumjaponicum) was discovered in pine straw ship-ments at two home improvement stores inOkaloosa County in Northwest Florida. TheFlorida Department of Agriculture andConsumer Services, Division of Plant Industry(FLDACS/DPI) issued‘stop sales’ on these ship-ments and the trailerswere removed by thesupplier. At one of thelocations, the firstreplacement shipmentalso was contaminatedwith climbing fern. Italso was issued a stopsale by FLDACS/DPI and was removed. Thedestinations of the contaminated shipments areunknown. Currently, pine straw at both loca-tions appears to be free of any climbing fern.
These shipments of Japanese climbing ferncontaminated pine straw are, most likely, notisolated events; the continuation of this prac-tice will only lead to the accelerated spread ofthis Category 1 invasive species. For con-cerned citizens who live in an area where pinestraw is being sold and are comfortable inidentifying climbing fern, a visit to local
pine straw distributors might be in order. IfJapanese climbing fern is found in baled pinestraw, a call can be made to FLDACS/DPI((352) 372-3505) to report the incident. Anagent will be sent to inspect the pine strawand if climbing fern is documented, a ‘stopsale’ order will be placed on the shipment. If
a contaminated ship-ment is found, thisneeds to be reported assoon as possible. InOkaloosa County, pinestraw is a favorite mulchmaterial used in land-scapes, and distributorscan sell a shipment of~1000 bales in 2 days.
The majority of local businesses selling pinestraw are probably unaware of the noxiousweed/invasive species problem with Japaneseclimbing fern. Most of these pine straw dis-tributors should be eager to correct the situa-tion. Educational material such as brochureswith pictures would be excellent visual aidsto pass on to business owners, store man-agers, or employees.
Respectfully,Dennis Teague
WILDLAND WEEDS 5
letter to the editor
Japanese Climbing Fern Found in Pine Straw Bales
FLORIDA EXOTIC PEST PLANT COUNCIL 20TH ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
“Weed Be Jammin’”Back to our Tropical Roots
May 9-11, 2005 Wyndham Casa Marina Resort* – Key West, Florida
Editor’s Notes: Mr. Teague is an endangered
species biologist with Eglin Air ForceBase in Northwest Florida, and isresponsible for the management of inva-sive/exotic species on the base’s 464,000acres.
For a related article, see JapaneseClimbing Fern Control Trials in PlantedPine by Mark Zeller and Drew Leslie inthe Summer 2004 issue of WildlandWeeds.
To learn to identify Old WorldClimbing Fern, visit this page from theUniversity of Florida’s IFAS Center forAquatic and Invasive Plants website:http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/lygjap.html orvisit this page from the FLEPPC website:http:/ /www.f leppc.org/Lygodium_info.html
Currently, Lygodium japonicumis regulated as a noxious weed by theFlorida Department of Agriculture andConsumer Services, and in Alabama bythe Alabama Department of Agricultureand Industries. It is not yet regulated inGeorgia, where the pine straw vendor islocated. The FLDACS/DPI has contact-ed the vendor in an attempt to resolvethe problem.
Annual business meeting, general sessions, vendor displays, field trips, training and CEUs
Banquet and performance by The Weeds
Program Chair: Dan Clark [email protected]
Including a special session in celebration of FLEPPC’s 20th year:
“Then and Now – The Exotic Pest Plant Council”by FLEPPC founding members
Visit the FLEPPC web site for details: www.fleppc.org*http://www.casamarinakeywest.com
6 SPRING 2005
Snakes Snails Puppy Dog Tails
but they flamboyantly collided recently inSouthwest Miami-Dade County. While mowingexotic cane grasses on an Everglades levee,South Florida Water Management District con-tractors accidentally “mowed” a handful of 8-10 foot exotic Burmese pythons (Pythonmolurus bivitattus) in the tall grass. The October2004 incident was a wake up call to watermanagers – all five snakes were hit in just a 3-hour period – and prompted them to recon-sider vegetation management practices on theartificially high ground in the Everglades area.
News of this python incident quickly reached Skip Snow,Wildlife Biologist at Everglades National Park and he immediate-ly made arrangements to retrieve as much of the remains as pos-sible to continue his research on the animal in the Everglades.
Skip has been col-lecting data on “bigsnakes” in EvergladesNational Park foryears, and was thefirst biologist tosound the alarmabout the Burmesepython. While thesesnakes have beenfound in the Parksince the late 1970s,the first documentedcase of breeding wasin 2000. Variousobservations by Parkstaff of individuals ofdifferent age groupssupport this unfortu-nate finding.
The Burmesepython is native to
Southeast Asia. It is a popular pet and hatchlings can be boughtfor a mere $20. They grow to 6-7’ long in one year and can reacha length greater than 20 feet, quickly becoming too large for theaverage pet owner to maintain. Biologists fear that these cast-offanimals are being released “into the woods” intentionally by irre-sponsible exotic pet owners. The wet-dry interface of water man-agement district levees provides ideal habitat for the snake.
The Park and the District are now working together to devel-op a management plan to deal with this species. In an effort tominimize cover, water managers are increasing mowing cycles andstepping up herbicide applications on cane grass species likePennisetum purpureum and Neyraudia reynaudiana. Bob Hill, aMiami field station employee, has been assigned to track the snakeon District lands. The Park is leading the effort to collect a widerange of important python data and is launching a “Don’t Let itLoose” public awareness campaign to encourage responsible petownership.
Park and District staff hope to complete initial ground andaerial surveys for the snake this winter – they are easiest to spotwhile basking in sunny spots during cold snaps – and the Park isbusy training a snake-detecting beagle to help track the species.
Lori Oberhofer, Wildlife Technician, Everglades NationalPark is training “Python Pete” to detect pythons inbrush. Skip Snow has this snake safely in the bag.
Lest you think that all we need worry about are exotic pest
plants, take a look below. We have snakes and snails and
weevils just for starters. You’ll have to read further to find
the puppy dog tail.
Lygodium with Teeth
They grow to 6-7’long in one yearand can reach alength greater
than 20 feet.
&
by Amy Ferriter, South Florida Water Management District
This snake was found along the L-67 extension levee in Miami-Dade County inJanuary 2005. Park wildlife biologists (Lori Oberhofer, holding the snake) spotted threeof the animals from the back of a pick-up truck and acted quickly to capture them.Plant biologists that witnessed the event offered little help in capturing the snakes, saying “We’re just glad our stuff doesn’t move.”
The worlds of exotic plants and exotic animalsrarely cross,
WILDLAND WEEDS 7
endangered snail kite and limpkin, nowmust compete for food and habitat with anapple snail from South America, the chan-neled apple snail (Pomacea canaliculata). Thevoracious channeled apple snail readily con-sumes almost any aquatic plant, and is par-ticularly attracted to less coarse plants suchas southern naiad (Najas guadalupensis), eel-grass (Vallisneria americana), and fanwort(Cabomba caroliniana). Their heavy feedingon aquatic plants could impact populationsof invertebrates that are consumed by small
fish, which are in turn eaten by larger fish like largemouth bassand crappie. Alligators, large turtles, and a few large birds may eatthe channeled apple snails but probably not enough to seriouslyimpact the populations.
The channeled apple snail has been introduced into manyareas around the world where it has become a serious agricultur-al pest (mainly of rice and taro). It threatens many natural lakesand wetlands due to habitat modification and competition withnative species. Populations are established throughout Florida (seemap) and breedingpopulations also existin Texas, California and Hawaii. Individualshave been collected as far north asNorth Carolina and Ohio. Channeled applesnails frequently are marketed in the aquari-um trade and may have been introduced byhobbyists, or possibly as eggs attached toaquatic plants planted in the lake, or as eggsattached to boat hulls. It is possible that populationswill decline as the food supply is exhausted, whichhas occurred with other species of apple snails.
Identification: The shells of channeled apple snails, Pomacea caniculata, vary
from 1.5 – 2.3 inches (40 to 60 mm) wide and 1-3/4 – 3 inches(45 to 75 mm) high. The color in the wild is yellowish to brownwith or without dark spiral bands. 5 to 6 whorls are separated bya deep, indented suture, hence the species name ‘canaliculata’ or
‘channeled’. Reddish-pink eggs are looselyattached to each otherwith the mass beinglaid above the water-line on docks, sea-walls, trees, and plantstems. An averageclutch contains 200 to600 eggs, with eachegg measuring 2.20 to3.5 mm (.086 to .138 inch) in diameter. Compared to the eggs ofnative apple snails, those of the channeled apple snail are small-
er, pinker, and more numerous (see photo). Eggs hatch inone to two weeks, releasing hundreds of juveniles into thewaterbody.
The shells of native apple snails, Pomacea paludosa, are1.5 – 2 inches (40-55 mm) wide by 1-3/4 - 2.5 inches (45-65 mm) high, and are yellowish to greenish brownwith red streaks and dark spiral bands. P. paludosa eggsare white to slightly pinkish and are laid on emergent
stems of vegetation and trees. The clutches of 10 to 80eggs are loosely packed together in a gelatinous mass.
Compared with P. canaliculata, the eggs of Pomacea paludosa arerelatively large, about 0.1” - 0.236” (3 to 6 mm) in diameter, butfar fewer in number. –KB
Information and photos provided by Dana Denson, Aquatic Biologist with theFlorida Department of Environmental Protection, 407/894-7555, ext. 2355;[email protected] and http://www.applesnail.net/
Exotic South American Snail Occurs in Florida Waters
Eggs hatch in one to two weeks, releasing hundreds of juveniles into the waterbody.
Mating Pomacea canaliculata from Lake Brantley in Seminole County, Florida.
Male Pomacea canaliculata on left with female fromLake Brantley.
The native Florida apple snail,Pomacea paludosa, a favorite food of the
8 SPRING 2005
some bursting with flowers in a myriad of color forms and somejust growing enormously as if some sort of Chernobyl accidenthad occurred. But the joy that comes from witnessing these colos-sal and sometimes miniscule plants can quickly turn to sadness.Bromeliads, or “pineapples up in the trees” as most folks refer tothem, are under attack. It is quite possible that the wild land-scapes we are familiar with will be absent those spiky species, adestiny too awful to fully imagine.
Around 1989, a shipment of ornamental bromeliads fromVera Cruz, Mexico arrived in Broward County. Harbored withinthe plants, weevils known as Metamasius callizona lived undetect-ed. Once they’d polished off their food source, it was time for
them to find more, and lucky for them, bromeliads are a localmenu item. By the time the weevils were discovered in a BrowardCounty nursery, they had already become established in native
bromeliads in the area. Today you will be hard pressed to find abromeliad in any canopy in Broward County. To date, Metamasiuscallizona has been found in 18 counties and numerous state parks,including the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, home to some of themost rare bromeliads in the United States.
Before going any further, it should be mentioned that we dohave a native weevil, Metamasius mosieri. The native weevil isquite distinctive from its Mexican counterpart. In terms of appear-ance, the native adult weevil is red anteriorly and black posterior-
ly, whereas the Mexican bromeliad adult weevil is black with a yel-low band. The grubs of the two weevil species are indistinguish-able. Metamasius callizona and Metamasius mosieri are cannibalisticbut it is not uncommon to find up to 12 Metamasius callizona inone plant. Metamasius mosieri may lay more than one egg in aplant but only one larva will survive.
When you are out in the field and find bromeliads, give thecenter leaves a gentle tug. The Mexican bromeliad weevil kills theplant through the tunneling action of its immature stage (larvae),which may consume the entire base. If this is the case, the centerleaves will easily pull out of the plant or the plant will fall to theground still intact or with leaves strewn about. If the center leavespull out, give the plant a thorough check, including pulling theplant apart and searching for any weevils.
Though monitoring for weevils seems fairly straightforward,I have found a few instances when it is not. For example, it waswidely accepted that the native weevil did not inhabit the largertank bromeliads (Tillandsia utriculata and Tillandsia fasciculata);this hypothesis crashed and burned after a cocoon that I had
found in a Tillandsia utriculata hatched, revealing a shiny red andblack weevil. We were relieved that it was a native but it added anew twist. Other aberrations encountered while weevil monitor-ing include: herbivory, center leaves pulling out without evidenceof weevil damage, ground strewn with bromeliads, “plugs” resem-bling small corks, and entire populations of Tillandsia setaceaappearing unhealthy.
It turns out that rabbits, deer, and cattle enjoy browsing onbromeliads. The bromeliad will look like it’s gotten a bad haircut
Evil Weevils by Heidi Aspen Rhoades; Photos by Barbra C. Larson, University of Florida
To me there is nothing more spectacular than beingin a shadowy world dotted with spiky bromeliads,
Native weevil, Metamasius mosieri. Adults range from 6-9 mm (1/4 to 1/3 of an inch)in length.
Adult Mexican weevil, Metamasius callizona. Adults range from 11-16 mm
(approximately half an inch) in length.
Today you will be hard pressed to find a bromeliadin any canopy in Broward County.
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WILDLAND WEEDS 9
but the plant will survive. I have also found that center leavesfrom the smaller Tillandsia species as well as young Tillandsia fas-ciculata and Tillandsia utriculata will pull out easily even if theyappear healthy. Ray Creel, a bromeliad enthusiast and conserva-tionist, explained that this can happen when the plants receive toomuch moisture. Sometimes you can enter a hammock and findbromeliads on the ground; do not panic! Consider the weather;has there been a lot of wind recently? Bromeliads can become dis-lodged during windy weather and fall to the ground. When thisoccurs, give the plant a check up and then find a nice nook andreplace the plant—it should be fine. Finding an adult Metamasiusmosieri has been a very rare experience for me, however, I havefound evidence of it in the form of a plug. Made of plant materi-al, this plug is constructed by the weevil to keep moisture in theplant and/or protect itself from predators. Finally, if you are in anarea and notice a “brown out” of Tillandsia setacea, do not bealarmed; this “unhealthy look” is part of the Tillandsia setacea life cycle.
If you find weevil damage, map the location and collect wee-vils if you find them, then contact a weevil team member at theUniversity of Florida (see below). You will want to revisit the areaand monitor for flowering and seeding. Seed collection is beingused to try to save Florida’s native bromeliads. The seeds will begerminated by designated nursery growers and released to the
same site after the exotic weevil threat is over. (For more informa-tion, visit the Save Florida’s Native Bromeliads website at save-bromeliads.ifas.ufl.edu). Also on the management front is a bio-logical control agent in the form of a parasitic fly (possible genusLixophaga). Currently, the fly is being studied by Alonso Suazo atthe Panamerican School of Agriculture in Honduras (in conjunc-tion with Drs. Howard Frank and Ron Cave of the University ofFlorida). Studies have confirmed that the fly will readily parasitizeMetamasius callizona and Metamasius mosieri, with evidence sug-gesting that it prefers Metamasius callizona. The fly is found inHonduras and Guatemala; it resides in high elevation cloud forestsand has heretofore been very difficult to colonize in the laborato-ry. Soon it will be brought to the University of Florida’s new quar-antine center (opened in July 2004) located at the Indian RiverResearch and Education Center in Fort Pierce. This new facilitywill enable researchers to colonize the fly under optimal condi-tions (humidity, lighting, temperature and space). It is not yetknown when (or if) the biological control agent will be released.
In this age of homeland security, let’s not forget our steward-ship responsibilities; monitor and keep in touch—it’s a highlyeffective way to conserve the real Florida.
For more information, contact Heidi Rhoades at [email protected], Dr.Howard Frank at [email protected] or Dr. Ron Cave at [email protected].
10 SPRING 2005
Bonnie FiglioliaHelena Aquatic Specialist
Eustis, FL(407) 256-2342
Polly EllinorHelena Aquatic Specialist
Tampa, FL(813) 376-3966
James BoggsHelena Aquatic Specialist
Dundee, FL(863) 557-0076
Homestead, FL(305) 245-0433
Delray Beach, FL(561) 499-0486Immokalee, FL
(239) 657-3141
Wauchula, FL(863) 773-3187
Palmetto, FL(941) 722-3253
Tampa, FL(813) 626-5121
Alachua, FL(386) 462-4157
Summerdale, AL(251) 989-6241
Mt. Dora, FL(352) 383-8139
Ft. Pierce, FL(772) 464-8660
Dundee, FL(863) 439-1551
Belle Glade, FL(561) 996-6200
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The Setting
The Florida Keys are a string of more than1,800 limestone and mangrove islands that arcsouthwest off the southern tip of Florida. Theserocky islands support a number of specialized habi-tats and endemic species. The hardwood hammocksfound here support a richer biodiversity of treesthan any other forest in the United States – about120 tree species! Clearly, the Keys lie at a “biologicalcrossroads” between the temperate habitats of NorthAmerica and the tropical habitats of the West Indies.
The uniqueness of these islands was recognizedearly on and many agencies collaborated to pur-chase land for conservation. To date, more than 50percent of the Florida Keys is in public ownership.However, because many subdivision property lineshave already been mapped, there are many singularpublic properties surrounded by private lands andthe invasive exotic plants that may reside withinthem (see map on page 13). This means that, milefor mile, there are many times more adjacent public/private property lines than there is coastline, which adds upto a lot of potential for invasion.
Do Exotics on Private Lands EqualJob Security?
Unfortunately, local public land managers have little time toworry about exotics on private lands. Operating with few resourcesand staff, some are unable even to address exotics within their ownboundaries, much less outside them. If it weren’t for funding fromthe Florida Department of Invasive Plant Management, many areaswould be out of control. However, public money cannot be used onprivate lands, even though they serve as tremendous sources of seedthat can be disbursed to adjacent public lands by wind, birds, ormammals. An alternate method is needed to remove these potentialseed sources from private lands.
Beyond Boundaries
The Keys biodiversity also attracted The Nature Conservancy(TNC), which helped many public agencies with land acquisitionand then turned its sights on land management. With three pre-serves (Terrestris on Big Pine Key, Torchwood Hammock on LittleTorch Key, and the Braft Tract on Lower Sugarloaf Key) in healthyshape, The Nature Conservancy wanted to look beyond its own bor-ders to help the Keys landscape as a whole. To accomplish this, TNChelped form the Florida Keys Invasive Exotic Task Force (FKIETF)in 1996, bringing public and private conservation land managers,
the county extension service, road maintenance crews, electrical util-ity providers, and others to the table to share knowledge, equip-ment, labor and training opportunities. The Task Force bandedtogether to produce brochures, its own Keys-specific exotic plantslist (see next page) and a quick response team to deal with newinvading species.
The Nature Conservancy also initiated “Project GreenSweep” in1999. In response to the Task Force’s requests for help, GreenSweeprecruits, trains and places volunteers in high-priority exotics controlprojects. They also conduct community outreach campaigns to
WILDLAND WEEDS 11
The Power of Partnerships -
Volunteers help remove Scaevola at Naval Air Station, Key West.
Brandishing a handsaw, Boy Scout Chris Purcell lays waste to a Brazilian pepper.
©Bi
ll Ke
ogh
Island Styleby Alison Higgins, Land Stewardship Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy of The Florida Keys
continued on page 14
14 SPRING 2005
spread the word about these spreading problem plants. Through theplanning efforts of Conservancy staff, GreenSweep grew into a Keys-wide program with training manuals, a large volunteer network anda method for addressing private land invasives. To date, GreenSweepstaff and volunteers have assisted hundreds of private landowners inachieving and maintaining exotics free properties, in turn keepingmillions of seeds away from public conservation lands. GreenSweepalso gives away thousands of native plants to Keys residents duringits annual Native Plant Fair while working with residential neigh-borhood organizations to encourage the use of non-invasive plantsin landscaping.
Finding Agency Partners
While The Nature Conservancy may not be able to help on yoursite, there are probably other nonprofit organizations that can. Doyou have a “friends of” group? A local native plant society chapter?Even if you can’t think of anyone right now, there are other thingsyour agency can do to help involve others.
First, don’t reinvent the wheel. Florida Keys Conservancy staffmembers Alison Higgins and Chuck Byrd are happy to supplyGreenSweep materials to help you train volunteers, recruitAmeriCorps teams, and obtain permission from private landowners.Locally, Miami-Dade County soon will be utilizing its firstAmeriCorps team. Across the water, the Bahamas Environment,Science and Technology Commission is adapting GreenSweep mate-rials to fit the country’s local invasive plant control needs.
Second, start making more friends. Talk to people in other agen-cies in your region. Find out who the crew supervisor is for yourlocal road right-of-ways and utility lines. You may just find an allyyou didn’t know you had.
The Big Picture
Natural lands don’t recognize property lines. Neither do inva-sive exotic plants. We need all partners to pitch in to address theseissues on a landscape scale. With cooperative groups like the FloridaKeys Invasive Exotics Task Force, innovative projects such as ProjectGreenSweep, and strategic private lands involvement through non-profits like The Nature Conservancy, the threat of invasive speciescan be fought and won. Unique habitats such as the Florida Keys canbe protected, at least in part, and the rich native biodiversity pre-served for another generation.
For more information, contact Alison Higgins, LandStewardship Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy of The FloridaKeys, 305/745-8402 ext. 111, [email protected]
A guidebook was prepared by TNC for use by Task Force mem-bers and other interested people. Identification Guide for InvasiveExotic Plants of the Florida Keys contains photos or line drawings ofeach plant on the list, together with location, basic identification andcontrol information. The book was prepared by Kate Hadden andKaita Frank and has just been updated by Chuck Byrd. Copies maybe obtained by contacting him at The Nature Conservancy, P.O Box420237, Summerland Key, FL 33042, 305-745-8402;[email protected]
MIK
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LMER
, GIS
SPE
CIAL
IST,
TNC
The Nature Conservancy gives away thousands of native plants to the communityduring its annual Native Plant Fair.
Big Pine Key
WILDLAND WEEDS 15
Invasive Plant ControlBrush ControlBareground
Turf Management
Basal ApplicationsCut Surface Applications
Pre-emergent ControlAquatic Applications
This gentle man and loving father passed suddenly from this life, and will be sorely
missed by his family, friends, and co-workers. We will remember his generous nature,
his willingness to share his time, his quiet but keen sense of humor, and his warm
sincere smile.
Mark Zeller truly loved the outdoors and was an extremely dedicated biologist
and avid woodworker. He loved killing weeds, and relished his role in enabling con-
servation land managers to remove invasive plants from their properties. Despite his
youth, Mark had a world of experiences and adventures. He had lived all over the
United States, attended college in Alaska (drove there on a motorcycle with his girl-
friend and eventual wife, Lisa), and volunteered on two separate occasions with ani-
mal rescue related to oil spills while there. He also spent six months in Antarctica studying seal
behavior. When crisis occurred after the first hurricane hit Florida last year, he was one of the first
department employees to leave his family to help with relief efforts.
Our office at DEP is a small close-knit group–a family. Mark, known as “Z” by coworkers and
contractors alike, was with us for some ten years. He was our friend and able co-conspirator. He
would bring little tokens of friendship back from vacation trips. For example, he brought Drew a
Willie Nelson CD entitled “Old And In The Way” after one trip. A quart bottle of “Arrogant Bastard” ale showed up after a par-
ticular California trip. Then there were the numerous field trips when things would go particularly “well”; we’d just sit in the
truck and Mark would finally break the silence and say, “OK, word of this doesn’t leave this truck!” He was the best and we will
sorely miss him.
– Greg Jubinsky and Drew Leslie, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Invasive Plant Management
MARK CONRAD ZELLER OCTOBER 24, 1967-NOVEMBER 25, 2004
16 SPRING 2005
FOR PLACEMENT ONLY
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Choose the date and location most convenient for you!• February 15 in Ft Myers, Lee Co.• March 11 in Davie, Broward Co.• March 30 in Clewiston, Hendry Co.
For The Public: A half-day program with the homeowner inmind. Learn why you should help tamemelaleuca and what your control optionsare. And get to know melaleuca’s naturalenemies, the weevil and the psyllid!
Choose the date and location most conven-ient for you!• February 16 in Ft Myers, Lee Co.• March 5 in Lake Worth, Palm Beach Co.• March 12 in Davie, Broward Co.• April 2 in Naples, Collier Co.
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Demonstrating biologically-based management of the
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2 0 0 5
Join theExotic Pest Plant Council
nearest you by visitingwww.se-eppc.org
Florida residents can join online at
www.fleppc.org
All members receive the quarterly magazine,
Wildland Weeds.
Gift subscriptions also are available.
Students - $10 General - $20
WILDLAND WEEDS 17
Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is a serious invader of openlands and forests throughout much of the southeastern UnitedStates. Mississippi, Florida, and Alabama have extensive infesta-tions that harm both the ecology and economics of naturalresource management. Native to SoutheastAsia, cogongrass was introduced in the early1900s for erosion control and as a forage crop.It quickly escaped initial plantings and beganspreading throughout the southeast.
Once established, cogongrass quicklydominates the understory plant environmentwhere it displaces native vegetation, restrictstree seedling establishment, and increases firerisks. These potential hazards and the aggres-sive nature of cogongrass led to it being listedas a Federal Noxious Weed by the U.S.Department of Agriculture, Animal and PlantHealth Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).
Until recently, only small isolated occur-rences of cogongrass had been found in the state of Georgia. In thefall of 2004, several acres of dense cogongrass were found inMitchell County, Georgia in a 10 year-old planted loblolly pinestand. The center of the infestation occurs in the middle of thepine stand and only a small portion has spread onto a road right-of-way. The cogongrass is aggressively displacing all other under-story plants and in most of the infested area it is the only plantspecies in the understory. The origin of the cogongrass introduc-tion has not been determined but it may have come in on equip-ment used in planting the pine trees.
Surveys were conducted in the woodlands, disturbed areas,and field edges that occur close to the infestation in an attemptto determine if cogongrass had spread or if any additional infes-tations had occurred. Several small satellite populations were
found in the immediate area. Control of theinfestation is being conducted and a com-bined effort from the Georgia Department ofAgriculture, USDA-APHIS, the University ofGeorgia, the Georgia EPPC, and the GeorgiaForestry Commission has been initiated toincrease both surveying efforts and educa-tional outreach programs. Previously, onlylimited surveys were conducted because itwas thought that cogongrass was not a majorproblem in Georgia. New surveys will assesshow large of a problem it has become.Educational outreach efforts are currentlytargeting foresters, wildlife biologists,landowners, and others who are likely to
come across cogongrass while working. The programs focus onidentification of cogongrass and stress the importance of report-ing infestations.
For more information, contact Christopher Evans at theCoastal Plain Experimental Station, P.O. Box 748, Tifton, GA31793; 229-386-3298; [email protected]
For more information on cogongrass, please visit theUniversity of Florida’s IFAS Center for Aquatic and InvasivePlants website: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/impcyl.html
Cogongrass: An Increasing Threat to South Georgiaby Christopher Evans, University of Georgia and Georgia EPPC
Closeup of cogongrass leaves, showing character-istic off-center whitish midvein.
�Thick infestation of cogongrass within a planted pine stand.
�Cogongrass forms a dense mat.
18 SPRING 2005
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Contact your area ACRC Contractor for details.
From this...• Acceptable containers triple-rinsed • Caps and labels removed• Stained but residue-free
To this....• Field drain pipes • Marine pilings • Fenceposts
USAg Recycling Inc. Sam Gibson800-654-3145 (toll free)[email protected]
The ACRC is a non-profit organization comprised of 31 member companies and 7 affiliates whose purpose is to promote
and support the collection and recycling of properly rinsed HDPE crop protection product containers.
PSA of Wildland Weeds
Questions? (334) 844-1630 | http://www.se-eppc.org/
7 T H A N N U A L S E - E P P C S Y M P O S I U M • 3 R D A N N U A L A L I P C S Y M P O S I U M
“Invasive Plants: Arming to Defend and Win”May 3-5, 2005
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General Program Schedule�Tuesday, May 3
General session, papers, posters, vendor displays. Evening social.�Wednesday, May 4
Special sessions, vendor displays, business meetings. Evening banquet.�Thursday, May 5 – Field Trips
Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Ruffner Mountain (Herbicide safety & application–pesticide recertification points available for most states),
Monte Sano State Park (Lonicera control program).
Pre-registration deadline: April 4, 2005
Conference registration:$85.00 by April 4, $95 after April 4
Program contact:James Miller, [email protected]
Registration contact:Curtis Hansen, [email protected]
WILDLAND WEEDS 19
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Mark Your Calendar• Treasure Coast Invasive Plant Management Short Course (half-
day), March 23, 2005, St. Lucie County CooperativeExtension, Fort Pierce, FL, 772/462-1660,[email protected]
• 66th Annual Meeting of the Association of SoutheasternBiologists (ASB), April 13-15, 2005, University of NorthAlabama, Florence, AL. Scott Jewell, 336/421-0034,[email protected] or www.asb.appstate.edu/
• Invasive Species: Their Ecological Impacts and Alternatives forControl, American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)Invasive Species Conference, April 18-22, 2005, sponsored byASTM Committee-E47 on Biological Effects and EnvironmentalFate, Reno, NV. The symposium will focus on supporting theassessment and monitoring of invasive species. Specific topicspertinent to invasive species issues include the identification ofstandardizations that Committee-E47 might develop to meettechnical and regulatory challenges. ASTM is seeking interna-tional participation and plans to focus on both terrestrial andaquatic habitats and species. www.astm.org Click on Symposiaand Workshops, then Current Call for Papers.
• Annual meeting of the Florida Vegetation ManagementAssociation, April 19-21, 2005. P.O. Box 141977,Gainesville, FL 32614-1977.
• 7th Annual Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council (SE-EPPC) and3rd Annual Alabama Invasive Plant Council (ALIPC), May 4-6,2005, Birmingham, Alabama. www.se-eppc.org
• International Workshop: Biological Invasions in Inland Waters,May 5–6, 2005, Florence, Italy Contact: Francesca Gherardi,[email protected] – http://labo.univ-poitiers.fr/craynet orhttp://www.dbag.unifi.it (click on Eventi)
• No Ivy Day, May 7, 2005.The Ivy Removal Project isheadquartered in Portland,Oregon, but they are look-ing for partners across thecountry to “…transform NoIvy Day 2005 into abicoastal, internationalpunch-out leaving ivy’s matdown for the count!” Theofficial motto of the group is “De Vine Intervention.” Visit theirexcellent website at: http://www.noivyleague.com/index.html
• 20th Annual Symposium, Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council(FLEPPC), May 9-11, 2005, Key West, Florida.www.fleppc.org
• 25th Annual Conference, Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS),May 12–15, 2005, Melbourne, FL, www.fnps.org
• 2005 AQUATIC WEED CONTROL SHORT COURSE, May16-20, 2005, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Aquatic, upland andinvasive weed control; aquatic plant identification. A new con-current session will focus on first time attendees with a morn-ing of equipment calibration training and an afternoon ofaquatic and natural area weed control training. Tyler J.Koschnick, University of Florida, IFAS, Center for Aquatic andInvasive Plants, 352/392-5126, FAX: 352/ 392-3462,[email protected] or http://conference.ifas.ufl.edu/aw/
• 16th Annual Florida Lake Management Society Conference,June 6-9, 2005, Hawk’s Cay Resort on Duck Key. Cash prizesfor student presenters! flms.net/florida.html
• 45th Annual Meeting of the Aquatic Plant Management Society(APMS), July 10-13, 2005, Paseo del Alamo, Texas.www.apms.org
• Mid-Atlantic EPPC Annual Meeting and Biannual Symposium(co-sponsored by the Morris Arboretum), August 16-17,2005, Philadelphia, PA. http://www.ma-eppc.org/
• 1st Annual Symposium of the Tennessee Exotic Pest PlantCouncil, September 8, 2005, Patterson Community Center,Murfreesboro, TN. A morning of speaker sessions and after-noon workshops covering topics such as assessment and mon-itoring, regional strategies, management plans: homeowners towilderness areas, and data gaps. Watch for registration infor-mation on http://www.tneppc.org/ or contact Pat Parr at 865-576-8123.
Publications:• Online publication of a new, comprehensive literature review,
“Fire as a Tool for Controlling Nonnative Invasive Plants,” by PeterM. Rice, University of Montana. The review “focuses on theintentional use of fire, alone or integrated with other methods,to control exotic plants in North America.” Approximately 235citations are noted in the 51-page report that is divided intofour sections: Managers’ Objectives, Limitations on Tactics,Detailed Case Studies, and References. The review can be readand downloaded at http://www.weedcenter.org/management/tools.htm#burning. The compilation was funded through agrant from the Center for Invasive Plant Management atMontana State University - Bozeman.
Internodes
continued on page 22
A summer youth crew shows off one of theirtrophies: part of an English ivy vine removedfrom a tree.
Last chance for small grants. Requests for Proposals for FLEPPC Education and Outreach
Small Grants due March 15th. See the FLEPPC website for more details: www.fleppc.org
22 SPRING 2005
Internodes continued
• Aquatic, Wetland and Invasive Plants in Pen-and-Ink (DVD). High resolution TIF scans of 175line drawings that include common and rare,native and non-native species of Florida and thesoutheastern U.S. IFAS Publication No. DVD-347. $100.00 ifasbooks.ufl.edu 800-226-1764
• Florida Ethnobotany by Dr. Daniel F. Austin, CRC Press, BocaRaton, FL. Co-sponsored by the Society for Economic Botanyand the Florida Native Plant Society. An incredibly compre-hensive documentation of the names and uses of nearly 900 ofFlorida’s plants, with illustrations of more than 500 species.$149.95 www.crcpress.com
• Woody Plants of the Southeastern United States: A Winter Guideby R. Lance, University of Georgia Press (2004). Designed forwinter use, this taxonomic guide describes approximately 900 plant species by twig, bud, and bark characteristics andfeatures almost 600 illustrations of the trees, shrubs, andwoody ground covers that grow in the southeastern U.S. without the aid of cultivation. Includes native and naturalizedexotic plant species. $54.95 www.ugapress.org
• Freshwater Plants in the Southeastern United Statesby V. Ramey, University of Florida, IFAS, Centerfor Aquatic and Invasive Plants (2005), Publ.No. SP-348. A recognition guide for 133 plants,similar in design to a folding road map, laminat-ed with full color photographs and key identify-ing characteristics. Includes an insert with botan-ical drawings of approximately 80 of the plantsdepicted. Folded size is 4-1/4” x 9-3/16”, con-venient for pockets, glove boxes, knapsacks and hand carryingin the field. $11.95 ifasbooks.ufl.edu 800-226-1764
A short selection of journal articles on invasive plants:
• “Exotic weed invasion increases the susceptibility of native plants toattack by a biocontrol herbivore” by T.A. Rand and S.M. Louda,Ecology 85(6):1548-1554. 2004. “This study provides some ofthe first empirical evidence that invasion by an exotic plant canincrease attack of native plants by shared insect herbivores.”
• “Tsetse flies are attracted to the invasive plant Lantana camara” byZ. Syed and P.M. Guerin, Journal of Insect Physiology 50:43-50. 2004. “In a wind tunnel we show that both foliage and anextract of volatiles from foliage of L. camara attract three tsetsespp. from different habitats: Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (riverine),G. brevipalpis (sylvatic) and G. pallidipes (savannah).”
• “Seed bank ecology of the invasive vine, cats claw creeper(Macfadyena unguis-cati (L.) A. Gentry” by G. Vivian-Smithand F.D. Panella. In Sindel, B.M and S.B. Johnson (editors)Proceedings of the 14th Australian Weeds Conference, pp.531-534. “Our results suggest that cats claw creeper does nothave a persistent seed bank. Persistence of infestations follow-ing regular control efforts may be largely due to regenerationfrom the below-ground tuber bank.”
Nodes of Interest• The Yale Peabody Museum in New Haven, Connecticut is fea-
turing a show called Landscape Under Siege: Invasive Plants ofConnecticut supplemented by Invasive Species and the PublicGood, The Fletcher Distinguished Lecture Series hosted by theGlobal Institute of Sustainable Forestry at the Yale School ofForestry and Environmental Studies. Invaders are identified withbotanically accurate watercolor paintings by members of theGreater New York Chapter of the Guild of Natural ScienceIllustrators, and with herbarium specimens from the YaleHerbarium collections in the Peabody’s Division of Botany. Themission is to educate the public about the negative impacts ofnon-native invasive plants on local habitats. For more infor-mation, go to: http://www.peabody.yale.edu/exhibits/ ctinva-sives.html
• The Volunteer Invasives Monitoring Program is a pilot programto track the threat of invasive non-native plants on six nationalwildlife refuges in six different states, including one in Florida.The program is a collaborative effort between the NationalWildlife Refuge Association, The Nature Conservancy, the USFish and Wildlife Service and the National Institute of InvasiveSpecies Science of the US Geological Survey. Visit the web siteat: http://www.refugenet.org/new-invasives/vimp.html
• Maine is no longer one of the only states in the lower 48 to befree of Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). An infes-tation has been discovered in a 28-acre private gravel quarry.The quarry allows no boating, swimming or fishing so themeans of introduction are unknown at this time. A drawdownis underway and treatment options are being considered bythe Maine Department of Environmental Protection. For more information, contact Paul Gregory, Maine DEP [email protected]
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that aMissouri seed company has paid USDA $875 to settle analleged violation of the Federal Seed Act. Violations includedfalse labeling as to presence of noxious-weed seeds withinshipments to Texas and Alabama of tall fescue and wheat.Another fine of $16,425 was paid by a Georgia seed companyfor violations including false labeling of noxious-weed seedsand their presence in excess of state’s limits; presence of pro-hibited noxious-weed seeds; and failure to show the presenceof noxious-weed seeds and the rate of occurrence. The caseinvolved 22 shipments of seeds to Florida, Georgia, Texas, andKentucky. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling lawdesigned to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed. TheAgricultural Marketing Service administers the act with thehelp of state seed officials.
• The National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA) has become the 13th Cabinet agency to join theNational Invasive Species Council (NISC). NASA says itscurrent work on maintaining the biological integrity of Earthand other solar system bodies along with work with remote
WILDLAND WEEDS 23
sensing activities of Earth’s biotic and abiotic environmentfrom space will make it an invaluable addition to the council.NASA has agreed to make its satellite observations of theEarth, computer modeling and engineering experience avail-able to NISC. The National Invasive Species Council is a cabi-net level council that was established by Executive Order ofPresident Bill Clinton in 1999 to provide leadership and toensure complementary, cost-efficient and effective federal activ-ities regarding invasive species. Council members, in additionto NASA, include three co-chairs: the secretaries of theInterior, Agriculture, Commerce, and the secretaries of State,Defense, Homeland Security, Treasury, Transportation, Healthand Human Services, as well as the administrators of theEnvironmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Agency forInternational Development, and the U.S Trade Representative.More information on NISC is online at: ww.invasivespecies.gov
• The Southwest Exotic Plant Information Clearinghouse is acooperative effort among the U.S. Geological Survey, theNational Park Service and Northern Arizona University toorganize comprehensive information on exotic plant species inthe southwest on one web location. Go tohttp://www.usgs.nau.edu/SWEPIC/
• Visit the Natural Areas Training Academy web site to learnabout the Certificate in Natural Areas Management
Program, a partnership of The Nature Conservancy (TNC)and the School of Natural Resources and Environment at theUniversity of Florida. The mission of the academy is to pro-vide public and private resource managers with up-to-date andpractical information and training for protecting Florida’s natu-ral areas. The Certificate in Natural Areas Management isawarded upon completion of a series of five workshops. Go tohttp://nata.snre.ufl.edu/ for more information.
Helena Chemical Company ....p. 10SePRO Corporation .................. p. 2 Syngenta Professional Products....................................p. 24
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All Terrain of Florida ..............p. 19Applied Aquatic Management..p. 20Aquatic Vegetation Control......p. 20Great Outdoors Publishing Company................p. 19Pandion Systems......................p. 20
to the following sponsors for supporting this issue of WILDLAND WEEDS:
THANK YOU
How much Lygodium…? In an effort to cur-tail the rampant growth and spread of Old world climbing fern,Lygodium microphyllum, the USDA-ARS Invasive Plant ResearchLaboratory released a lygodium-eating moth,Austromusotima (formerly Cataclysta) camptonozale,on February 14 from Jonathan Dickinson StatePark in Hobe Sound, Florida. In attendance at thishighly anticipated event were U.S. RepresentativeE. Clay Shaw, Jr., officials from the USDA-ARS, theFlorida Department of Environmental Protection,and the South Florida Water Management District, vegetation man-agement biologists and experts. The caterpillars of the Lygodiummoth eat the leaves of the plant, killing smaller plants and reduc-ing the vigor of larger plants. The insect has been fully testedunder quarantine conditions and officially approved for release asthe first biological control agent targeting Lygodium in Florida.
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