Eupatorium adenophorum is native to Central America, but is a noxious invasive perennial weed distributed in subtropical areas worldwide. It invades a diverse range

of habitats including roadsides, agricultural fields, disturbed grasslands, and abandoned fields, causing great economic and biodiversity losses. The mechanisms underlying its invasion success are still poorly understood, although there have been several studies on its ecology and physiology.

Enemy release may be at least one of the reasons underlying its success as an invader.

Prof. Feng Yulong and his research team of XTBG found a nativepolyphagous ant- Dorylus orientalis and studied their relationship. They found that D. orientalis is a ntural enemy of the weed.

In the study, they observed damage to the epidermis, cortex, phloem, cambium, and xylem tissues of roots and stems around the root collar of E. adenophorum growing in an experimental field in Yunnan Province, southwest China. Dorylus orientalis fed on the weed and resulted in the death of the plants by interrupting nutrient exchange between shoots and roots.

The ant showed selectivity for the invader to some extent. The finding of D. orientalis and other native enemies indicate that E. adenophorum may gradually naturalize in introduced landscapes. In addition, this ant may have potential for use as a biocontrol agent against the invader.

 The related research observation entitled “Noxious invasive Eupatorium adenophorum may be a moving target: Implications of the finding of a native natural enemy, Dorylus orientalis” has been featured as cover story of Chinese Science Bulletin, 55 :3743-3745.