Surveying establishment success: A capstone survey of <i>Floracarus perrepae</i> and <i>Neomusotima conspurcatalis</i> on <i>Lygodium microphyllum</i>

We started an establishment survey in July of 2023 to understand where the biological control agents have successfully established and/or dispersed. Study sites were chosen throughout Lygodium microphyllum’s invaded range based on iNaturalist and EDDMaps observations. Two surveys were conducted, one for each biological control agent.​ For Floracarus perrepae 5 points were selected at an interval of at least 10 meters. At each point, 3 samples of 2 fully expanded sub pinnae pairs were collected haphazardly. These samples were brought back to the lab, the number of galls were counted, and a subset of 25 galls were dissected to determine how many mites were in each gall. For Neomusotima conspurcatalis two surveyors non-systematically explored the L. microphyllum patch for 15 minutes (for a total of 30 minutes) looking for and inspecting for feeding damage, larvae, and adults.​

Partially funded by the USDA through the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) (USDA agreement 58-6032-1-001) and through the Southwest Florida Water Management District (USDA agreement 58-6032-3-003)