Officials OK Insect Release To Control Invasive Vine
The U.S. federal government has approved the release of a non-indigenous [nonnative]
insect on Guam and in the Northern Marianas to control the rapid spread of a vine that is
covering forests like a blanket, the Saipan Tribune reports.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the green light to breed and release the
Heteropsylla spinulosa insect, which eats the Mimosa dilotricha [diplotricha] vine. The fastspreading
plant is found in many Pacific Islands, but is particularly widespread in the
Northern Marianas and on Guam. It usually kills the trees and shrubs that it covers.
Officials will collect the insect from Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia,
Palau and Australia.
Source: “Officials OK Insect Release To Control Invasive Vine,” 4/2/08,
Discuss the advantages of using the insect to control the rapid spread of the Mimosa diplotricha vine
on Guam and the Northern Marianas. In your answer, be sure to:
• state one possible way the Mimosa diplotricha vine kills trees and shrubs
