Chromolaena odorata (Chromolaena)

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae), a herbaceous plant native to the Neotropical Region, has become a widespread weed in South Africa and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The stem borer Recchia parvula (Lane) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) is a host-specific biocontrol agent for C. odorata in South Africa.

Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.King & H.Rob. (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) is a herbaceous plant native to the Neotropical Region (Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia) that has become a widespread weed in South Africa and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world.  The univoltine stem borer Recchia parvula (Lane) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) was selected as a promising biological control agent against this weed. After extensive host range field and laboratory studies, R. parvula was approved as a biocontrol agent of C. odorata in South Africa. Climate matching studies indicate that the northwestern Argentina R. parvula populations would be best adapted to control C. odorata in the invaded areas of Africa.