Objective:
Conduct collaborative research with the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), Pretoria, South Africa, to develop biological control agents for use against mesquite and waterhyacinth.

Approach:
Target specific biological control agents will be evaluated for their ability to destroy seeds, pods and flower buds and/or flowers. Emphasis will be placed on the seed-feeding weevil (Apion sp.), petiole mining fly (Thrypticus sp.) and sap sucker (Taosa sp.) that occurs widely in Argentina. Research will cover the following areas: 1. Natural host range; 2. Characterization of one or two unidentified Apion, Thrpticus and/or Taosa spp. that attack green mesquite pods; 3. Life cycle and phenology of selected specie(s) and their associated natural enemies; 4. Host-specificity studies and potential impact on seed production in South Africa (Permission will be obtained to introduce South African prosopis pods for preliminary preference studies in quarantine in Argentina.); 5. Live insects studies in quarantine in South Africa.