Expedition to Malaysia
The search for entomological biocontrol agents of 3 invasive plant species in Florida.
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The goal of this field expedition was to look for insect herbivores of three non-native plant species that were invading native habitats in Florida. The three plant species were: Dioscorea bulbifera, Ardisia elliptica and A.crenata. Over a two week period, I explored parts of western Peninsular Malaysia with researchers from the Forest Research Insitute of Malaysia for the three target species. I found many individuals of the three species as well as 11 herbivores on the two Ardisia species. Below are pictures of the plants, their herbivores as well as details from my wild adventures in Malaysia.
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Dioscorea bulbifera Family : Dioscoreaceae
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Ardisia elliptica Family: Myrsinaceae
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Ardisia crenata Family: Myrsinaceae
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Adventures in Malaysia: Trip to southern Peninsular Malaysia (Pasoh) Trip to northern Peninsular Malaysia Trip around Penang Botanical Gardens
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Areas examined in Malaysia. The first trip (solid line) was based out of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (of Kuala Lumpur) and encompassed forest reserves and protected forests at the foothills of the Malaysian Main Range (Banjaran Titiwangsa, area indicated in darker green and brown). The second trip (dotted line) was based out of Penang Botanical Gardens (Penang) and encompassed the northern foothills of Peninsular Malaysia. |
