Studies on the influence and control of invasion species in Taiwan - Impatiens wallerian and Quadrastichus erythrinae (2/2)

The erythrina gall wasp, Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim, is the first gall wasp species ever recorded killing its host, coral trees Erythrina spp. (Fabaceae). Coral trees are popular ornamental trees in Taiwan and some were found suffering wilt or die-back in southern Taiwan in 2003. The erythrina gall wasp was identified as the main cause of the damage and symptoms caused by the galler were described by Yang et al (2004). However, due to lack of control measures, the erythrina gall wasp has spread out all over the island since then, infesting and, in severe cases, killing tens of thousand coral trees. There are 8 species of coral tree, more than 40,000 trees infested in 2006 around Taiwan, more than hundred Erythrina varigata are killed.
We proposed 6 chemical treatments to 120 infested coral trees in Kaohsiung Metropolitan Park to control the EGW.