Country report: Thailand. Biological control of weeds in Thailand
Napompeth, B.
BIOTROP Special Publication 38: 23-36
1990
Document Number: 499769
The biological control of terrestrial and aquatic weeds in Thailand is reviewed. The criteria for the selection of weeds for biological control is discussed, and a list presented of the commonly encountered natural insect enemies of selected target weeds of economic importance (Amaranthus spinosus, Chromolaena odorata [Eupatorium odoratum], Melastoma malabathricum, Mimosa pigra, M. invisa, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Eichhornia crassipes, Hydrilla verticillata, Ludwigia adscendens, Pistia stratiotes and Salvinia cucullata). The current status of the 10 biological control programmes attempted in Thailand between 1977 and 1989 is briefly outlined. Four of these programmes failed under quarantine conditions. However, control of A. philoxeroides by the chrysomelid Agasicles hygrophila, a native of Argentina that was introduced from Australia in 1981, has been highly successful, and satisfactory control of E. crassipes and M. pigra have also been achieved by Neochetina eichhorniae imported form the USA in 1977 and by Acanthoscelides puniceus and A. quadridentatus brought over from Australia in 1983, resp.