Invasion of Melaleuca Quinquenervia in Southern

Florida by: Val Steinbronn

Introduced Species

• Native to Australia• Impacts fire management in S. Florida

• Changes soil topography• Invades Cladium jamaicensis marshes

Plant Facts

• Grows up to 90 feet high(20 meters)• Forms dense stands• Loose outer bark• White flowers• Seeds produced in capsules

Fire Management Concerns

• Crown fires common• Foliage contains flammable oils/resins• Increased reproduction potential post burn• Leaf/branch litter on forest canopy allows for

ground fires and more intense fires

Integrated Pest Management

• Mechanical treatments

• Herbicide application

• Biological control agents

Biological Control Agents• 1997 Oxyops vitiosa (melaleuca leaf weevil)• 2002 Boreioglycaspis melaleucae (sap-sucking

psyllid)• 2004 Fergusonina turneri (melaleuca bud gall

fly)

Herbivory Study• Herbivory by Oxyops vitiosa reduces

reproduction (Pratt et al 2005)

References

• Flores, Alfredo. 2004. TAMEing Melaleuca with IPM. Agricultural Research. Vol. 52 Issue 11 2-6.

• Flowers, J.D. 1991. Subtropical fire suppression in Melaleuca quinquenervia . Pp. 151 158. In: Center, T.D., R.F. Doren, R.L. Hofstetter, R.L. Myers, and L.D. Whiteaker, (eds.). Proc. Symp. Exotic Pest Plants, Nov. 2-4, 1988, Miami, Fl. NPS/NREVER/NRTR-91/06 Tech. Rept. , US Dept. Int., Nat. Park Serv., Denver, CO.

• Laroche, F.B. 1994. Melaleuca Management Plan for Florida. Exotic Pest Plant Council. 88pp.

• Wade, D.D. 1981. Some melaleuca-fire relationships including recommendations for homesite protection. pp. 29-35 In: R.K. Geiger, (ed) . Proc. Melaleuca Symp.Sept. 23-24,1980, Edison Comm. Coll., Ft. Myers. Fla. Dept. Agric. & Cons. Serv., Div. Forestry, Tallahassee.