SUITABILITY OF METRIONA-ELATIOR (KLUG) (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE, CASSIDINAE) AS A BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL AGENT FOR SOLANUM-SISYMBRIIFOLIUM LAM (SOLANACEAE)

A leaf-feeding tortoise beetle, Metriona elatior (Klug), was screened as a biological control agent for the weed Solanum sisymbriifolium Lam . in South Africa. Favourable biological characteristics of M. elatior include a high reproductive capacity, long-lived adults and several g enerations per year under laboratory conditions. Host range was invest igated by larval survival, and host plant choice tests by adults. Larv ae were successfully reared on 10 of 11 native Solanum species tested, five exotic Solanum species (except S. sisymbriifolium) and on the ec onomically important eggplant, S. melongena L. The adult females selec ted these native and exotic Solanum species, and eggplant as suitable for oviposition. Based on these results it was decided not to apply fo r release of this insect.