Location: Invasive Plant Research LaboratoryTitle: Changes in latitude: overwintering survival of two Lilioceris cheni(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) biotypes in Florida
Citation: Smith, M., Overholt, W.C., Lake, E.C., Diaz, R., Manrique, V., Hight, S.D., Rohrig, E., Minteer, C., Wheeler, G.S., Rayamajhi, M.B., Bowers, K.E., Kerr, C. 2018. Changes in latitude: overwintering survival of two Lilioceris cheni(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) biotypes in Florida. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 28(3):293-306. .
Interpretive Summary: Lilioceris cheni, a chrysomelid beetle, is a biological control agent for the invasive vine, Dioscorea bulbifera. Two biotypes of the beetle are now available for release. We conducted four seasons of overwintering trials to determine which biotype fares best in which areas in Florida. We initially hypothesized that Chinese beetles would do best in south Florida and Nepalese beetles would do best in the more northern parts of the invaded range. Nepalese beetles survived significantly better than Chinese beetles overall. Beetles survived better in 2013, the first year of the study and beetles generally survived best in Fort Pierce. These data will aid current mass rearing and release efforts by providing much needed information regarding the best biotype for each region.