Spread and establishment of Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritiidae) in Nigeria, a biological control agent of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Robinson

ABSTRACT

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Robinson (Asteraceae) is one of the worst invasive weeds in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Cecidochares connexa (Macquart) (Diptera: Tephritiidae) is a biological control agent of C. odorata. It was introduced into Côte d’Ivoire in 2003 and spread across West Africa. This paper reports the establishment, distribution, and density of C. connexa in Nigeria, the seventh country in West Africa with a confirmed report of C. connexa. It is anticipated that the gall fly, recorded in Nigeria, will have similar impacts on C. odorata as in the other six countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Invasive plant
• gall fly
• dispersal
• population trend
• post-release evaluation

Acknowledgements

We thank Adebola Adeoye (University of Lagos), Oluwasegun Akorede Ogunboye (Obafemi Awolowo University), and Azubuike Michael Izuchukwu (Nnamdi Azikiwe University) for assisting the first author with the surveys.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).