Rarotonga uses natural enemies to increase climate resilience | Out & about

Abstract

In this video, we visit the Cook Islands to find out how natural enemies are becoming a popular tool for controlling widespread weeds such as the African tulip (Spathodea campanulata), one of the worst invasive plants in the world, the mile-a-minute, and Grand balloon vines. To control the African tulip, Rarotonga is using two different biocontrol agents, the gall mite released in 2016, and the black flea beetle in 2021. The density of the African tulip have declined since then, and will continue so in the long term. For the mile-a-minute and Grand balloon vines, they are controlled by a rust fungus from South America. To date, the rust fungus have reduced the ability of the two invasive weeds to photosynthesize, and compete with native species or crops.