Sixth report on Trichilogaster establishment - 2021

Responsáveis pela equipa:
Elizabete Marchante, emarchante@uc.pt
Hélia Marchante, hmarchante@esac.pt
31-12-2021
Centro de Ecologia Funcional da Universidade de Coimbra
Escola Superior Agrária do Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra
Release and post-release monitoring of the biocontrol
agent “Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae” for the
control of the invasive “Acacia longifolia” in Portugal
SIXTH REPORT

Release and post-release monitoring of the biocontrol agent “Trichilogaster
acaciaelongifoliae” for the control of the invasive “Acacia longifolia” in Portugal
2021
1
Index
1. Preamble ............................................................................................................................................. 2
2. Release campaign in 2021................................................................................................................... 4
3. Post-release monitoring of the galls ................................................................................................... 8
4. Conclusions........................................................................................................................................ 17
5. References......................................................................................................................................... 17
Annex 1. Table A1. FULL NAMES of the SITES referred in the text, figures and tables (1/3 pages).......... 19
Annex 2. Published article López-Núñez et al., 2021. ............................................................................... 22
Annex 3. LIST OF NON-TARGET PLANTS monitored in 2020 and 2021 for galls of Trichilogaster
acaciaelongifoliae...................................................................................................................................... 32

2021
2
1. Preamble
This is the sixth annual report (previous reports sent to the competent authorities) about the release and
post-release monitoring of the biological control (hereafter biocontrol) agent Trichilogaster
acaciaelongifoliae for the control of the invasive plant Acacia longifolia (Figure 1) in Portugal.
Figure 1. Acacia longifolia, from left: plant, inflorescence, seeds in pods, and galls promoted by Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae.
Acacia longifolia is an Australian species invasive in Portugal (Presidência do Conselho de Ministros, 2019)
and one of the most widespread invasive plants in coastal areas of the mainland. It causes significant
adverse ecological impacts (López-Núñez et al., 2017; Marchante et al., 2008, 2015; Figure 2, bottom
images), which may persist over time and make restoration of invaded areas increasingly more difficult and
complex (Le Maitre et al., 2011; Marchante et al., 2009, 2011a). In addition, it reduces forest productivity,
mainly in littoral pine plantations, and increases fire hazard (Le Maitre et al., 2011), with consequent
negative socio-economic impacts. Control methods in use until recently (i.e., mechanical and/ or chemical
methods) are very expensive and often unsuccessful, due to the extensive, persistent and long-lived seed-
bank accumulated in the soil (Marchante et al., 2010), that promotes the quick reinvasion of cleared areas.
Figure 2. Coastal areas with native vegetation (top images) and areas densely invaded by Acacia longifolia (bottom images),
where the invasive species replaced the diverse native communities, composed by many shrubs and herbaceous species, by
almost monospecific woody stands.

2021
3
After more than 12 years of host speciﬁcity testing, risk assessment and permits (Jeger et al., 2016;
Marchante et al., 2011b; Shaw et al., 2016), in November 2015, the biocontrol agent Trichilogaster
acaciaelongifoliae (Australian bud-galling wasp) started to be released in pre-selected sites along the
Portuguese coast (Marchante et al., 2017). This biocontrol agent is a highly host-specific organism, affecting
almost exclusively A. longifolia and targets mainly seed reduction; it is a small Australian gall-former
(Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae, 3 mm), with an annual life cycle (in average), spending most of the year inside
the galls (Figure 3); emerging females search for flower (preferably, but also vegetative) buds, oviposit the
eggs, and die after 2 – 3 days (in average) (Noble, 1940). As a result, galls are produced instead of flowers (or
new branches) and as such seed production is prevented (or vegetative growth reduced). In the short-term it
reduces the production and dispersal of seeds and in the longer-term a decrease of germination is expected
after control, fire or other disturbances, since the soil seed-bank receives less and less seeds each year; less
vegetative growth and physiological stress for the plants may also be expected, as they cannot cope with
heavy gall loads (Dennill, 1985).
This agent has been successfully used to control A. longifolia in South Africa for more than 40 years, where it
decreased seed production and vegetative growth (Dennill and Donnelly, 1991; Wilson et al., 2011). In
Portugal, in Spring-Summer 2016, 661
galls were detected in five2
of the release sites (Marchante et al.,
2017), in 2017 around 1100 galls were detected in the same five sites3
, during 2018 the monitoring effort
detected almost 25000 galls in five sites (but while four sites were the same as in previous years, one was
new, since one of the sites with establishment in 2016 burned in October 2017 and the population was lost),
in 2019 establishment of T. acaciaelongifoliae was already observed in 334
sites along most of the
Portuguese coast, from Riba de Âncora, in the north, to Faro, in the south, and in 2020 the number of
establishment sites had increased to 40.
Figure 3. The biocontrol agent Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae. From left: adult female; female ready to emerge from the gall and
pupae; and galls promoted by T. acaciaelongifoliae with emergence holes.
1
In the first report, 56 galls were mistakenly reported due to an error in the summing of galls (all galls were correctly
identified in each site of release but the sum formula had an error).
2
In the first report, galls were reported in four sites, but later in the season, after report submission, one gall was
detected in Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto, raising the number of sites with establishment to five.
3
In the second report, galls were reported in five sites, but later on a few galls were detected in Coimbra, in a new site
(Patos), raising the number of sites with T. acaciaelongifoliae to six. However, one site burned in October 2017
(Perímetro Florestal das Dunas de Cantanhede) and as such the total number of sites with establishment was five.
4
In the 2019 report, 32 sites were reported with establishment, but a new site was detected in June 2020 most
probably resulting from the 2018 release campaign, raising the number of sites with establishment in 2019 to 33.

2021
4
2. Release campaign in 2021
As in previous campaigns, some release and monitoring were done by a team from Centre for Functional
Ecology, which includes members of Escola Superior Agrária, Instituto Politécnico de Coimbra (ESAC) and
Universidade de Coimbra (UC), but also included the contribution of technicians from the Instituto da
Conservação da Natureza e das Florestas (ICNF), municipalities, NGOs and forest companies in a strategic
collaboration to involve other stakeholders. In what concerns ESAC and UC, work occurred in the context of
one ongoing project “Projeto Piloto 9 - Plantas invasoras, included in the larger project F4F - Forest for
Future, Reforço da capacitação de atores e redes de promoção de ações de desenvolvimento (Centro-08-
5864-FSE-000031)”, funded by Centro 2020, Portugal 2020 and European Union, through European Social
Fund. This project is focused in the empowerment of stakeholders in the centre of Portugal, including the
training and involvement of technicians from different entities and citizens in the monitoring of the
biocontrol agent, but includes only a small task of field work with the research team. Therefore, more
detailed monitoring was somewhat reduced compared to previous years and funding for the next
campaigns is not yet secured, despite efforts to guarantee follow up budget. If efforts are not well
succeeded the next campaigns may be at risk or much reduced.
In 2021, T. acaciaelongifoliae was released on 42 sites, thirteen of which had releases from previous years,
but had undetected or limited establishment (Table I). As in previous years, this biocontrol project has been
disseminated in scientific and awareness activities over the years and several site owners / managers, when
becoming aware of it, showed interest in releasing galls on their sites to increase the speed of establishment
and therefore galls were released on such sites also in 2021. With the increasing number of sites with
establishment, it may be expected that T. acaciaelongifoliae independent dispersal would eventually
colonize all these sites in the coming years, but this way the rate of establishment is accelerated. Site owners
/ managers have been instructed to register release locations so that we can monitor the establishment and
spread of the biocontrol agent, but the number of galls or wasps has not always been reported and as such
some numbers are gross estimates (Table I, column “Wasps”, year 2021). Other releases assisted by humans
without our knowledge may have happened, since the galls are conspicuous and visible and citizens can
collect and release them in other locations. Table I includes all the release campaigns from 2015 to 2021.
Table I. Release sites and number of female wasps* of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae released in the seven release campaigns
(2015-2021) in Portugal. In bold, sites with more than one release. *Since 2019, most releases were made by technicians from
ICNF, forestry companies or municipalities and galls were left in place instead of emerged wasps, so it was not possible to know
the exact number of wasps released and gross estimates are reported; in 2020, on a few sites, no information was reported on the
number of galls left on the site (depicted with “?”); in 2021, on a few sites, the number of wasps are gross estimates.
CODE SITE#
COORDINATES PROJECT YEAR WASPS OBJECTIVE$
ESP Esposende 41.508999,-8.784351 INVADER-B 2015 30 Monitoring
SJD Dunas de São Jacinto 40.672717,-8.740729 INVADER-B 2015 88 Monitoring
TOC Tocha 40.34837,-8.81704 INVADER-B 2015 105 Monitoring
QUD Dunas de Quiaios 40.22476,-8.88622 INVADER-B 2015 80 Monitoring
EST Coimbra (ESAC) 40.216722,-8.450210 INVADER-B 2015 9 Monitoring
COI1 Coimbra (Patos) 40.209237,-8.401237 INVADER-B 2015 39 Monitoring
SBV Serra da Boa Viagem 40.20037,-8.88969 INVADER-B 2015 65 Monitoring
COI Coimbra (Pólo II) 40.18588,-8.41358 INVADER-B 2015 44 Monitoring
SPM São Pedro de Moel 39.75711,-9.02338 INVADER-B 2015 74 Monitoring
TOTAL 2015* 534

2021
5
Table I (cont 1). Release sites and number of female wasps* of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae released in the seven release
campaigns (2015-2021) in Portugal.
CODE SITE#
ESP Esposende 41.508999,-8.784351 INVADER-IV 2016 139 Monitoring
SPI Espinho 40.923320,-8.658262 INVADER-IV 2016 135 Biocontrol
SJD Dunas de São Jacinto 40.672717,-8.740729 INVADER-IV 2016 74 Monitoring
EIX Eixo 40.620281,-8.568342 INVADER-IV 2016 54 Biocontrol
MIR Mira 40.394569,-8.789050 INVADER-IV 2016 45 Biocontrol
TOC1 Tocha N 40.320083,-8.845127 INVADER-IV 2016 129 Monitoring
LAG Lagoa da Vela 40.269481,-8.799287 INVADER-IV 2016 70 Biocontrol
QUP Quiaios N 40.241645,-8.854573 INVADER-IV 2016 75 Monitoring
EST Coimbra (ESAC) 40.216722,-8.450210 INVADER-IV 2016 83
Founder
pop.
COI1 Coimbra (Patos) 40.209237,-8.401237 INVADER-IV 2016 38 Biocontrol
COV Covões 40.194632,-8.466302 INVADER-IV 2016 37 Biocontrol
ANO Anobra 40.161626,-8.510096 INVADER-IV 2016 21 Biocontrol
HEL Condeixa 40.113693,-8.513775 INVADER-IV 2016 5 Biocontrol
LAV Lavos 40.097376,-8.856496 INVADER-IV 2016 66 Biocontrol
LEI Leirosa 40.076190,-8.865008 INVADER-IV 2016 77 Biocontrol
MUR Mata do Urso 39.983285,-8.914007 INVADER-IV 2016 89 Biocontrol
PED Pedrogão 39.937940,-8.927712 INVADER-IV 2016 45 Biocontrol
VLE Vieira de Leiria 39.865863,-8.971235 INVADER-IV 2016 76 Monitoring
PAT Paredes da Vitoria (Pataias) 39.707963,-9.048827 INVADER-IV 2016 138 Biocontrol
TOTAL 2016** 1396
ESP Esposende 41.508999,-8.784351 INVADER-IV 2017 39 Monitoring
SEI Seixo 40.497200,-8.754436 INVADER-IV 2017 46 Monitoring
EST Coimbra (ESAC) 40.216722,-8.450210 INVADER-IV 2017 32
Founder
pop.
COV Covões##
40.194632,-8.466302 INVADER-IV 2017 69 Biocontrol
ALH Alhadas (Cabecinho) 40.174834,-8.787518 INVADER-IV 2017 6 Biocontrol
FIG2 Figueira da Foz (McDonald´s) 40.166223,-8.853586 INVADER-IV 2017 6 Biocontrol
ANO Anobra 40.161626,-8.510096 INVADER-IV 2017 6 Biocontrol
ANO1 Anobra1##
40.160576,-8.498345 INVADER-IV 2017 20 Biocontrol
FIG1 Figueira da Foz (Rotunda LIDL) 40.157502,-8.849582 INVADER-IV 2017 22 Biocontrol
VIV Vila Verde 40.154741,-8.795803 INVADER-IV 2017 16 Biocontrol
FIG Figueira da Foz 40.148682,-8.836959 INVADER-IV 2017 48 Biocontrol
MOR Morraceira 40.139481,-8.844876 INVADER-IV 2017 8 Biocontrol
GAL Gala, Parque de Merendas 40.123295,-8.859909 INVADER-IV 2017 10 Biocontrol
HEL Condeixa 40.113693,-8.513775 INVADER-IV 2017 2 Biocontrol
PAT Paredes da Vitoria (Pataias) 39.707963,-9.048827 INVADER-IV 2017 21 Biocontrol
LSA Lagoas de Santo André 37.991658,-8.854934 INVADER-IV 2017 46 Monitoring
FAR Faro 37.028391,-8.005642 INVADER-IV 2017 28 Monitoring
TOTAL 2017*** 425
RBA Riba de Âncora (Baldios de Riba de Âncora) 41.808889,-8.796121 OTHERS 2018 48 Biocontrol
PEN Quinta Pentieiros 41.775557,-8.657753 GANHA 2018 25 Biocontrol
ANH Anha 41.674618,-8.801127 GANHA 2018 9 Biocontrol
ANT Antas 41.61092,-8.80828 GANHA 2018 54 Biocontrol
ESP Esposende 41.508999,-8.784351 GANHA 2018 83 Monitoring
BEZ Barrinha de Esmoriz 40.963981,-8.647378 GANHA 2018 45 Biocontrol

2021
6
CODE SITE#
EIX2 Eixo (Quinta de S. Francisco) 40.616127,-8.567075 OTHERS 2018 18 Biocontrol
IP3 Acesso IP3 40.586589,-8.015036 OTHERS 2018 3 Biocontrol
VAG Dunas Vagos (GANHA) 40.535932,-8.74104 GANHA 2018 146 Monitoring
BZM Belazaima do Chão 40.527697,-8.330153 OTHERS 2018 20 Biocontrol
VNR Vila Nova da Rainha 40.47055,-8.09458 OTHERS 2018 3 Biocontrol
POC1 Pocariça (Cantanhede1) 40.382712,-8.574368 OTHERS 2018 39 Biocontrol
POC2 Pocariça (Cantanhede2) 40.37305,-8.579074 OTHERS 2018 21 Biocontrol
TOC2 Tocha (Caniceira) 40.3476,-8.77368 GANHA 2018 79 Biocontrol
TOC4 Charco Berlengas 40.326566,-8.782187 GANHA 2018 4 Biocontrol
TOC3 Cruzamento Tocha 40.3254768,-8.8131098 GANHA 2018 9 Biocontrol
COV Covões 40.194632,-8.466302 INVADER-IV 2018 2 Biocontrol
FIG2 Figueira da Foz (McDonald´s) 40.166223,-8.853586 INVADER-IV 2018 8 Biocontrol
FIG1 Figueira da Foz (Rotunda LIDL) 40.157502,-8.849582 INVADER-IV 2018 16 Biocontrol
FIG Figueira da Foz 40.148682,-8.836959 INVADER-IV 2018 12 Biocontrol
SOU Soure 40.099786,-8.619687 OTHERS 2018 45 Biocontrol
PAT Paredes da Vitoria (Pataias) 39.707963,-9.048827 GANHA 2018 77 Biocontrol
STC Praia do navio, Santa Cruz 39.144362,-9.371916 GANHA 2018 13 Biocontrol
CAR Carapinheira, Mafra 38.935492,-9.276104 OTHERS 2018 34 Biocontrol
CAP Praias da Costa da Caparica 38.599935,-9.20743 GANHA 2018 48 Biocontrol
ARR Estrada Setúbal - praias 38.496597,-8.930805 GANHA 2018 12 Biocontrol
SAD Estrada Tróia - Comporta 38.426573,-8.824844 GANHA 2018 46 Biocontrol
BRJ Brejinhos 38.031267,-8.808383 GANHA 2018 43 Biocontrol
PQS Pesqueiro Sancha 38.02586,-8.82275 GANHA 2018 52 Biocontrol
SIN2 Monte Feio - Sines 2 37.996261, -8.842971 GANHA 2018 20 Biocontrol
LSA Lagoas de Santo André 37.991658,-8.854934 GANHA 2018 103 Monitoring
SIN1 Monte Feio - Sines 1 37.981616, -8.845499 GANHA 2018 16 Biocontrol
FAR Faro 37.028391,-8.005642 GANHA 2018 109 Monitoring
TOTAL 2018**** 1262
ALHQ Alhadas (areeiro) 40.2021111, -8.7884639 OTHERS 2019 50 Biocontrol
VNM Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (Praia das Furnas) 37.714934, -8.7845 GANHA 2019 24 Biocontrol
TOTAL 2019***** 74
CAM Camarido 41.86106,-8.863898 OTHERS 2020 ? Biocontrol
RBA Riba de Âncora (Baldios de Riba de Âncora) 41.808889,-8.796121 OTHERS 2020 548 Biocontrol
AFI###
Afife 41.789493,-8.869711 OTHERS 2020 310 Biocontrol
CARR Carreço 41.754159,-8.87547 OTHERS 2020 300 Biocontrol
VIC Viana do Castelo 41.702256,-8.837369 OTHERS 2020 225 Biocontrol
ESP Esposende 41.508999,-8.784351 OTHERS 2020 505 Biocontrol
ESP 2 Esposende 2 41.499313,-8.775334 OTHERS 2020 540 Biocontrol
BZM Belazaima do Chão 40.527697,-8.330153 OTHERS 2020 ? Biocontrol
VIG Vigía 40.516265,-8.725941 OTHERS 2020 200 Biocontrol
ARE Praia do Areão 40.491751,-8.788856 OTHERS 2020 35 Biocontrol
CAL Calvão 40.470903,-8.685942 OTHERS 2020 ? Biocontrol
LOB Covão do Lobo 40.447997,-8.646407 OTHERS 2020 35 Biocontrol
COV Covões 40.194632,-8.466302 OTHERS 2020 150 Biocontrol
PAT 2 Pataias 2 39.662347,-9.002107 OTHERS 2020 375 Biocontrol

2021
7
CODE SITE#
FAL Falca 39.640147,-9.069502 OTHERS 2020 ? Biocontrol
MMA Mata da Machada 38.619271,-9.038819 OTHERS 2020 ? Biocontrol
EVR Évora 38.533685,-8.031304 OTHERS 2020 7 Biocontrol
BRE Brescos 38.105037,-8.77737 OTHERS 2020 468 Biocontrol
BRJ Brejinhos 38.031267,-8.808383 OTHERS 2020 1655 Biocontrol
TOTAL 2020****** 5453
CAM Camarido 41.86106,-8.863898 OTHERS 2021 2000 Biocontrol
SARG Serra de Arga (Covas) 41.853378,-8.665701 OTHERS 2021 1800 Biocontrol
ARG Argela 41.852682,-8.786086 OTHERS 2021 1000 Biocontrol
SARG1 Serra de Arga 41.830093,-8.612093 OTHERS 2021 200 Biocontrol
GON Gondar e Orbacém 41.821084,-8.787055 OTHERS 2021 1400 Biocontrol
GEL Gelfa/Afife 41.789493,-8.869711 OTHERS 2021 1200 Biocontrol
SOV Santo Ovídio 41.779186,-8.606498 OTHERS 2021 50 Biocontrol
PEN Quinta Pentieiros 41.775557,-8.657753 OTHERS 2021 410 Biocontrol
MAD Monte da Madalena 41.750916,-8.561963 OTHERS 2021 135 Biocontrol
VIC1 Viana do Castelo 1 (Norte) 41.749177,-8.831553 OTHERS 2021 300 Biocontrol
CARR1 Carreço 1 41.7374,-8.8509 OTHERS 2021 500 Biocontrol
VIC Viana do Castelo 41.702256,-8.837369 OTHERS 2021 700 Biocontrol
ESP Esposende 41.508999,-8.784351 OTHERS 2021 200 Biocontrol
SPI Espinho 40.923320,-8.658262 OTHERS 2021 800 Biocontrol
STA Estarreja 40.758341,-8.595584 OTHERS 2021 250 Biocontrol
SOS Sosa 40.549646,-8.667132 OTHERS 2021 5 Biocontrol
ARE Praia do Areão 40.491751,-8.788856 OTHERS 2021 110 Biocontrol
LET Leitões 40.429927,-8.712309 OTHERS 2021 110 Biocontrol
TOC5 Tocha 5 (Norte) 40.323949,-8.743228 OTHERS 2021 392 Biocontrol
TEI Lagoa dos Teixoeiros 40.310908,-8.764749 OTHERS 2021 300 Biocontrol
MAI Maiorca 40.158837,-8.734734 OTHERS 2021 205 Biocontrol
PRA Rio Pranto (Moinho da Maré) 40.115566,-8.819142 OTHERS 2021 113 Biocontrol
MUR2 Mata do Urso 2 40.03914,-8.88194 OTHERS 2021 102 Biocontrol
MUR1 Mata do Urso 1 40.011343,-8.870597 OTHERS 2021 53 Biocontrol
MUR Mata do Urso 39.983285,-8.914007 OTHERS 2021 104 Biocontrol
PED Pedrogão 39.937940,-8.927712 OTHERS 2021 52 Biocontrol
BRE Brescos 38.105037,-8.77737 OTHERS 2021 1095 Biocontrol
LSA1 Lagoas de Santo André 1 38.084201,-8.784392 OTHERS 2021 90 Biocontrol
VNS Vila Nova de Santo André 38.056644,-8.777166 OTHERS 2021 50 Biocontrol
BRJ Brejinhos 38.031267,-8.808383 OTHERS 2021 20 Biocontrol
PQS Pesqueiro Sancha 38.02586,-8.82275 OTHERS 2021 1755 Biocontrol
SIN2 Monte Feio - Sines 2 37.996261,-8.842971 OTHERS 2021 475 Biocontrol
SIN3 Sines 3 37.981741,-8.76415 OTHERS 2021 230 Biocontrol
SIN4 Sines 4 37.924986,-8.794867 OTHERS 2021 50 Biocontrol
BMO Barragem de Morgavél 37.918682,-8.749114 OTHERS 2021 125 Biocontrol
VNF1 Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (Norte) 37.752877,-8.790966 OTHERS 2021 8 Biocontrol
ALM Almograve 37.637749,-8.784605 OTHERS 2021 16 Biocontrol
SAR Cabo Sardão 37.61438,-8.804001 OTHERS 2021 8 Biocontrol
BAR Porto das Barcas 37.551772,-8.791497 OTHERS 2021 8 Biocontrol

2021
8
CODE SITE#
PCA Praia do Carvalhal 37.50392,-8.790064 OTHERS 2021 8 Biocontrol
POR Porches 37.102117,-8.371548 OTHERS 2021 65 Biocontrol
FAR Faro 37.028391,-8.005642 OTHERS 2021 133 Monitoring
TOTAL 2021****** 16627
#for simplification, site names were shortened, for full name check Annex 1; ##many trees were cut after release; ###
Afife was renamed to Gelfa after 2021; $"Monitoring"- sites monitored for establishment and effects of the BCA;
"Biocontrol"- sites monitored only for establishment of the BCA; "Founder pop."- greenhouse where a “founder
population” was initially maintained; *releases from 20/11 to 07/12/2015, with South African galls; **releases from
12/11 to 13/12/2016, with South African galls; ***releases from 06/12/2017 to 08/01/ 2018, with South African galls;
****releases from 14/06 to 20/07/2018, with Portuguese galls; ***** release at 28/06 and 15/08/ 2019, with
Portuguese galls; galls were left in field instead of wasps, we assumed 1 wasp emerged/ gall; ****** In 2020 and 2021,
the number of wasps are underestimated, because galls were released instead of emerged wasps; sites with "?" - no
information about the number of galls/ wasps released.
3. Post-release monitoring of the galls
Most release sites were monitored in 2021 (Figure 4, Table II). As in previous years, because the number of
sites to be monitored is currently too high to screen them all in detail, they are being monitored with a less
demanding protocol whose only aim was to detect establishment of T. acaciaelongifoliae, recording
presence or absence of galls in the plants where galls were released or nearby (sites signalled as “Biocontrol”
in Table I). Sites signalled as “Monitoring” in Table I have some extra level of monitoring by the research
team, e.g., evaluation of fitness of A. longifolia, soil seed bank, seed production, etc. Depending on the size
of the galls, their detectability, and proximity to Coimbra, for some sites more than one monitoring was
performed; when this happened, the maximum number of galls recorded was used for Table II (also for
other years). As previously, when more than one distinct generation of galls was observed after the
“normal” season, the sum of galls of the different generations is shown in Table II. Because release sites are
now widespread along the Portuguese coast and funding is limited, several sites were monitored with the
help of technicians from ICNF, municipalities, NGOs and forest companies and citizen scientists in a highly
positive collaborative effort. Although this may result in more heterogeneity/uncertainty in the data
presented, we believe it pays off, as it increases the spatial and temporal scale of this monitoring. In order to
increase the accuracy of data collection, a project was created using the App Epicollect5 (“Registo de
Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae”) to gather data and distributed to all stakeholders and citizens involved in
the monitoring.
In 2021, there is establishment of T. acaciaelongifoliae confirmed along most of the Portuguese Coast and
some more inland sites, from north to south of the country, at least in 48 sites (Figure 4, Table II). This
number is possibly higher as on several sites it was too early to detect the establishment of 2021 releases
and others had not yet been monitored when this report was closed. On many of these sites, the
establishment is quite recent, from last year or the previous year. 405788 galls were estimated, but this is
clearly an underestimation as an intensive search was not possible in most places and several places have
too many galls to be possible to count or even estimate (check notes in Table II). Figure 4 and Table II
summarize information from all release and monitoring campaigns in order to give a complete picture of this
biocontrol project.

2021
9
It is noteworthy that contrary to the initial years (2015 – 2018) when the number of first generation galls per
site was generally low (at most in the order of tens), in 2021 on several sites this number was much higher,
sometimes more than one thousand, e.g., Camarido and Acesso IP3 (Table II). This difference is due to the
fact that the wasps released until 2017 (establishment until 2018) were of South African origin (so the life
cycle was not synchronized with the season and phenology of A. longifolia in Portugal), while since 2018 the
releases were made with wasps from Portuguese populations and, therefore, more synchronized with the
phenology of the host plant (A. longifolia) and also with more adequate meteorological conditions. In
addition, when wasps spread naturally by their own means or when galls are released instead of wasps,
wasps have a longer lifespan as they emerge in the field instead of emerging in the laboratory and being
transported a few hours or days later - since they are short-lived (on average 2-3 days as adults), this can
make some difference.
Figure 4. Field sites where the biocontrol agent Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae was released and monitored along the
Portuguese coast during the first (2015, black dots in the legend), second (2016, dark red dots), third (2017, green dots), fourth
(2018, blue dots), fifth (2019, brown dots), sixth (2020, pink dots) and seventh (2021, orange dots) release campaigns. Sites where
galls were detected (confirmed establishment of the biocontrol agent) are marked with symbols in full, and sites with no
establishment confirmed are open. For 2021 releases, information about establishment it is not yet possible for most of the sites.
Source: (López-Núñez et al., 2021) and updated for 2021.
Despite T. acaciaelongifoliae has apparently synchronized its life cycle with the Northern hemisphere, in
2021 (as before) in a few places mature galls were detected (including insects emerging) outside the

2021
10
expected main season, i.e., not synchronized with the majority of the other galls in the end of Spring/early
Summer (May – June; which seems to be the “normal” season) and so it was not possible to be certain of the
number of generations per year. Nevertheless, galls resulting from the 2015 releases were possibly the sixth
generation. In 2021, these May-June galls were in higher numbers, but an apparent second generation was
observed in August/ September in some sites, e.g., in Pólo II from University of Coimbra, Paredes da Vitoria
(Pataias), Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios (Dunas Quiaios), Mata Nacional de Leiria (São Pedro de Moel)
and Covões (and less so in Reserva Natural das Dunas de S. Jacinto and Vagos). The life cycle of T.
acaciaelongifoliae is been monitored in more detail in order to clarify this issue.
Table II. Number of galls of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae detected during post-release monitoring campaigns (2016 - 2021),
including the one in 2021, to which this reports refers specifically. Sites are ordered first from the year of establishment and,
secondly, from north to south. Except for 2021, only sites and years where galls were detected are shown. Since 2019, numbers
shown should be interpreted as merely indicative and are certainly underestimated because either the biocontrol agent spread
further away from the release trees, and galls were not detected, or the numbers were too high, making it impossible to have an
accurate count.
CODE SITE
MONITORING
YEAR
NUMBER of
DETECTED
GALLS (max$)
COORDINATES
SJD Reserva Natural das Dunas de S. Jacinto 2016 1 40.672717,-8.740729
TOC Perímetro Florestaldas Dunas de Cantanhede (Tocha) 2016 38 40.34837,-8.81704
TOC Perímetro Florestaldas Dunas de Cantanhede (Tocha) 2017 29 40.34837,-8.81704
TOC Perímetro Florestaldas Dunas de Cantanhede (Tocha) 2018## 0 40.34837,-8.81704
QUD Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios (Dunas Quiaios) 2016* 9 40.22476,-8.88622
QUD Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios (Dunas Quiaios) 2017 73 40.22476,-8.88622
COI1 Coimbra (Patos) 2016 0 40.209237,-8.401237
COI1 Coimbra (Patos) 2017*** 21 40.209237,-8.401237
COI Coimbra (Pólo II from University of Coimbra) 2016 9 40.18588,-8.41358
COI Coimbra (Pólo II from University of Coimbra) 2017** 413 40.18588,-8.41358
SPM Mata Nacional de Leiria (São Pedro de Moel) 2016 9 39.75711,-9.02338
SPM Mata Nacional de Leiria (São Pedro de Moel) 2018**** 16415 39.75711,-9.02338

2021
11
Table II (cont.). Number of galls of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae detected during all post-release monitoring campaigns.
CODE SITE
MONITORING
YEAR
NUMBER of
DETECTED
GALLS (max$)
COORDINATES
RBA Riba de Âncora (Baldios de Riba de Âncora) 2019 153 41.808889,-8.796121
RBA Riba de Âncora (Baldios de Riba de Âncora) 2021 36808 41.808889,-8.796121
PEN Quinta Pentieiros 2019 26 41.775557,-8.657753
PEN Quinta Pentieiros 2021 9251 41.775557,-8.657753
ANT Antas 2019 51 41.61092, -8.80828
ANT Antas 2021 ? 41.61092, -8.80828
ESP Esposende 2019 2546 41.508999,-8.784351
ESP Esposende 2020 1165 41.508999,-8.784351
ESP Esposende 2021 90840 41.508999,-8.784351
BEZ Barrinha de Esmoriz (BEZ) 2019 77 40.963981,-8.647378
EIX2 Eixo (Quinta de S. Francisco) 2019 107 40.616127,-8.567075
EIX2 Eixo (Quinta de S. Francisco) 2021 5000 40.616127,-8.567075
VAG Dunas Vagos (GANHA) 2019 733 40.535932,-8.74104
VAG Dunas Vagos (GANHA) 2021 17544 40.535932,-8.74104
BZM Belazaima do Chão 2019 3 40.527697,-8.330153
BZM Belazaima do Chão 2020 0 40.527697,-8330153
BZM Belazaima do Chão 2021 5000 40.527697,-8330153
POC1 Pocariça (Cantanhede1) 2019 37 40.382712,-8.574368
POC1 Pocariça (Cantanhede1) 2021 tbc 40.382712,-8.574368
TOC2 Tocha (Caniceira) 2019 11 40.3476,-8.77368
TOC2 Tocha (Caniceira) 2021 8 40.3476,-8.77368
TOC4 CharcoBerlengas 2019 3 40.326566,-8.782187
TOC4 CharcoBerlengas 2021 tbc 40.326566,-8.782187
COV Covões 2019 3 40.194632,-8.466302
COV Covões 2020 3015 40.194632,-8.466302
COV Covões 2021 1417 40.194632,-8.466302
FIG2 Figueira da Foz (McDonald´s) 2019 31 40.166223,-8853586
FIG2 Figueira da Foz (McDonald´s) 2021 2491 40.166223,-8853586
FIG1 Figueira da Foz (Rotunda LIDL) 2019 81 40.157502,-8849582
FIG1 Figueira da Foz (Rotunda LIDL) 2021 tbc 40.157502,-8849582
FIG Figueira da Foz 2019 5 40.148682,-8836959
FIG Figueira da Foz 2021 480 40.148682,-8836959
SOU Soure (RAIZ - Pai Daniel) 2019 35 40.099786,-8.619687
SOU Soure (RAIZ - Pai Daniel) 2021 ? 40.099786,-8.619687
PAT Paredes da Vitoria (Pataias) 2019 67 39.707963,-9.048827
STC praia do navio, Santa Cruz 2019 5 39.144362,-9.371916
STC praia do navio, Santa Cruz 2021 tbc 39.144362,-9.371916
CAR Carapinheira, Mafra 2019 25 38.935492,-9.276104
CAR Carapinheira, Mafra 2021 12225 38.935492,-9.276104

2021
12
CODE SITE
MONITORING
YEAR
NUMBER of
DETECTED
GALLS (max$)
COORDINATES
CAP Praias da Costa da Caparica 2019 77 38.599935,-9.20743
CAP Praias da Costa da Caparica 2021 ? 38.599935,-9.20743
SAD estrada Tróia - Comporta (RN Estuario Sado) 2019 23 38.426573,-8824844
SAD estrada Tróia - Comporta (RN Estuario Sado) 2021 ? 38.426573,-8.824844
BRJ Brejinhos 2019 321 38.031267,-8.808383
BRJ Brejinhos 2020 14777 38.031267,-8.808383
BRJ Brejinhos 2021 24051 38.031267,-8.808383
PQS Pesqueiro Sancha 2019 11 38.02586,-8.82275
PQS Pesqueiro Sancha 2021 9430 38.02586,-8.82275
SIN2 Monte Feio - Sines 2 2019 2 37.996261,-8.842971
LSA Lagoas de Santo André 2019 818 37.991658,-8.854934
FAR Faro 2019 1117 37.028391,-8.005642
FAR Faro 2020 1597 37.028391,-8.005642
FAR Faro 2021 1813 37.028391,-8.005642
GEL Gelfa 2021 1000 41.789493,-8.869711
CARR Carreço 2021 1180 41.754159,-8.87547
VIC Viana do Castelo 2021 265 41.702256,-8.837369
ESP2 Esposende 2 2021 tbc 41.499313,-8.775334
VIG Vigía 2021 789 40.516265,-8.725941
ARE Praia do Areão 2021 279 40.491751,-8.788856
CAL Calvão 2021 37 40.470903,-8.685942
LOB Covão do Lobo 2021 145 40.447997,-8.646407
ALHQ Alhadas (areeiro) 2020 8 40.20211,-8.78846
ALHQ Alhadas (areeiro) 2021 ? 40.20211,-8.78846
HEL Condeixa 2020 23 40.113693,-8.513775
HEL Condeixa 2021 605 40.113693,-8.513775
PAT 2 Pataias 2 2020 1446 39.662347,-9.002107
PAT 2 Pataias 2 2021 8355 39.662347,-9.002107
FAL Falca 2020 683 39.640147,-9.069502
FAL Falca 2021 1840 39.640147,-9.069502
MMA Mata da Machada 2021 500 38.619271,-9.038819
EVR Évora 2021 23 38.533685,-8.031304
BRE Brescos 2020 205 38.105037,-8.77737
BRE Brescos 2021 ? 38.105037,-8.77737
VNM Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (Praia das Furnas) 2020 4 37.714934,-8.7845
VNM Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (Praia das Furnas) 2021 36 37.714934,-8.7845
CAM Camarido 2021 1556 41.86106,-8.863898
IP3 Acesso IP3 2021 1533 40.586589,-8.015036
SARG Serra de Arga (Covas) 2021 tbc 41.853378,-8.665701
ARG Argela 2021 tbc 41.852682,-8.786086

2021
13
CODE SITE
MONITORING
YEAR
NUMBER of
DETECTED
GALLS (max$)
COORDINATES
SARG1 Serra de Arga 2021 tbc 41.830093,-8.612093
GON Gondar e Orbacém 2021 tbc 41.821084,-8.787055
SOV Santo Ovídio 2021 tbc 41.779186,-8.606498
MAD Monte da Madalena 2021 tbc 41.750916,-8.561963
VIC1 Viana do Castelo 1 (Norte) 2021 tbc 41.749177,-8.831553
CARR1 Carreço 1 2021 tbc 41.7374,-8.8509
SPI Espinho 2021 tbc 40.923320,-8.658262
STA Estarreja 2021 tbc 40.758341,-8.595584
SOS Sosa 2021 27 40.549646,-8.667132
LET Leitões 2021 165 40.429927,-8.712309
TOC5 Tocha 5 (Norte) 2021 tbc 40.323949,-8.743228
TEI Lagoa dos Teixoeiros 2021 tbc 40.310908,-8.764749
MAI Maiorca 2021 tbc 40.158837,-8.734734
PRA Rio Pranto (Moinho da Maré) 2021 tbc 40.115566,-8.819142
MUR2 Mata do Urso 2 2021 tbc 40.03914,-8.88194
MUR1 Mata do Urso 1 2021 tbc 40.011343,-8.870597
MUR Mata do Urso 2021 tbc 39.983285,-8.914007
PED Pedrogão 2021 tbc 39.937940,-8.927712
LSA1 Lagoas de Santo André 1 2021 tbc 38.084201,-8.784392
VNS Vila Nova de Santo André 2021 tbc 38.056644,-8.777166
SIN3 Sines 3 2021 10 37.981741,-8.76415
SIN4 Sines 4 2021 tbc 37.924986,-8.794867
BMO Barragem de Morgavél 2021 tbc 37.918682,-8.749114
VNM1 Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (Norte) 2021 tbc 37.752877,-8.790966
ALM Almograve 2021 446 37.637749,-8.784605
SAR Cabo Sardão 2021 200 37.61438,-8.804001
BAR Porto das Barcas 2021 tbc 37.551772,-8.791497
PCA Praia do Carvalhal 2021 215 37.50392,-8.790064
POR Porches 2021 tbc 37.102117,-8.371548
TOTAL 2016 66
TOTAL 2017 1124
TOTAL 2018 24793
TOTAL 2019 11957 *****
TOTAL 2020 67245
TOTAL 2021 405788
$
For some sites, more than one monitoring/year was performed; when this happened, the maximum number of galls
recorded was used for this table; ##
The area in Tocha burned in October 2017 and the population was lost; *In the end of
2017, 16 dried galls were detected that had not previously been detected; **413 corresponds to the maximum number of
galls detected in 3 monitoring events during 2017 (1st 413; 2nd 304; 3rd 363); ***These 21 galls were detected only after
conclusion of the second report; **** 5690 galls were counted and the rest were estimated from observations; In 2021,
sites with "tbc" means “to be confirmed”, i.e., these sites are still to be monitored; "?" - sites where gall formation is
confirmed, but where they have not been counted; ***** In 2019 it was no longer possible to count the number of galls
in sites with establishment in the previous years and as such Total corresponds to the sum of galls counted only in sites
with new establishment (2019), from wasps released in 2018, from Portuguese populations.

2021
14
Although gall counting is now impossible, in most sites where establishment took place in previous years it
was clear that the number of galls grew exponentially each year. This was expected since each female wasp
can oviposit on average around 300 eggs, and therefore when populations are established and (more)
synchronized with the seasons and phenology of A. longifolia in the Northern Hemisphere, population
growth can increase quite fast. In addition to the increase in the number of sites, the size of the areas/ range
of dispersal is also increasing, with T. acaciaelongifoliae spreading into new areas, sometimes several
hundred meters or even a few kilometres (at least up to 7 km) from the focal trees where wasps were
initially released. Therefore, in 2020 we started a citizen science project, asking citizens and stakeholders to
report galls of T. acaciaelongifoliae in order to increase detectability in places further away from the release
sites (Marchante et al., n.d.). More than 40 citizens reported galls of T. acaciaelongifoliae on different sites,
using not only the project created in Epicollect5 (“Registo de Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae”), but also
using iNaturalist/BioDiversity4All, e-mail and Facebook. This further shows that the biocontrol agent is
becoming widespread and detected by the local populations.
Regarding the monitoring and counting of galls, some points need to be highlighted: 1) although the
establishment of T. acaciaelongifoliae is clearly confirmed and galls are increasing in space and number, gall
counting is now impossible and less and less accurate because i) the biocontrol agent is spreading farther
and farther from the release trees, sometimes within a few kilometres, decreasing the chances of
detectability, ii) the number of galls is too high to allow an absolute or accurate count, iii) the number of
sites with establishment is very high and the workload for detailed monitoring is unbearable due to logistical
and funding constraints; iv) in some sites and years, several generations of galls are observed and it is
difficult to delimit each one in time; and v) some sites are separated by only a few kilometres and after a
certain time the populations are coming together and it is no longer possible to distinguish different
populations; 2) the counts reflect a limited period of time and there are certainly galls not detected because
they were not visible when monitoring is done, i.e., it should be kept in mind that galls may not yet be
detected at the time of monitoring and establishment may be confirmed later; 3) sites that have
establishment for more than three years and in sites where releases were done with galls of Portuguese
populations (releases since 2018) the numbers shown in Table II should be interpreted as merely indicative
and are certainly underestimated because either the T. acaciaelongifoliae spread further away from the
release trees and was not detected or the numbers were too high, making it impossible to have an accurate
count.
A scientific article was recently published with the first results of establishment, spread and early impacts of
T. acaciaelongifoliae (López-Núñez et al., 2021; Annex 2). Establishment and spread have been presented
above. In what concerns impacts, although it is important to evaluate the effects of T. acaciaelongifoliae
from the beginning of the biocontrol establishment, it must be kept in mind that the number of plants with
galls and the quantity of galls in each plant is still small and sparse compared to the numbers of available
floral and vegetative buds of A. longifolia in very extensive invaded areas, and consequently the effects
detected are expected to be still indicative at this stage. Nevertheless, the impacts on the reproductive
output and vegetative growth of A. longifolia were evaluated in more detail at three sites with establishment
since 2016 (Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios, Reserva Natural das Dunas de São Jacinto and Mata
Nacional de Leiria), showing that galled A. longifolia branches produced significantly fewer pods (−84.1%),
seeds (−95.2%) and secondary branches (−33.3%) and had fewer phyllodes but increased growth of the main
branch compared to ungalled branches (Figure 5). These results suggest that the effects of T.
acaciaelongifoliae are not limited to branches with galls, but are reflected at the tree level. This could be
expected, since the formation of galls represents an energy expenditure for the entire plant and not only for

2021
15
the branches where galls develop. These measured effects are noticeable when looking at plants more
broadly, with some A. longifolia almost not producing flowers since 2020.
Figure 5. (a) Impacts of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae on reproductive (number of seeds and pods) and vegetative (number of
secondary branches and phyllodes, and total branch length) output of Acacia longifolia. The impacts are depicted as mean
percentage change between the periods 2018–19 and 2019–20, across the three sites evaluated: São Jacinto dunes, Quiaos and
São Pedro de Moel. Error bars show the standard error. Letters above bars show the results of a Tukey post-hoc test. (b) Impact of
T. acaciaelongifoliae on reproductive and vegetative output of A. longifolia represented as the percentage of change observed in
galled trees (calculated as the average of both galled and ungalled branches) in relation to reference values in ungalled trees.
Source: (López-Núñez et al., 2021).
As in previous years, amongst all the galls observed, some exhibited parts of A. longifolia phyllodes (revea-
ling that they were probably originated from oviposition in vegetative buds, Figure 6, bottom right), but
most galls were more probably originated from flowers buds (Figure 6, bottom left), confirming the better
synchrony between the early stages of flower bud development and emergency of T. acaciaelongifoliae
wasps. A few wasps were observed flying and ovipositing in the field, with most galls revealing one or more

2021
16
emergency holes (depending on the number of chambers) indicating that insects of T. acaciaelongifoliae
must have emerged.
Figure 6. Galls of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae detected during post-release monitoring campaigns in 2020. Top, branches
heavily colonized. Bottom, from left: flower and vegetative galls.
As said above, and like in South Africa, even if there is a peak for emergency, considerable variation was
observed in the phenology of galls and sites suggesting that wasps do not emerge all at the same time and
probably are not taking the same time to complete the life cycle, raising some doubt about the number of
generations per year. Nevertheless, and despite the variation, in Portugal, T. acaciaelongifoliae now seem to
take around one year to complete the life cycle, with wasps more synchronized with the conditions (climate
and phenology of A. longifolia) of the northern hemisphere, as observed in the southern hemisphere.
Like in previous years, observations to detect galls of T. acaciaelongifoliae were also done in many non-
target plants (please check list of species in Annex 3), located in the areas surrounding A. longifolia trees
where there is establishment of the agent. Despite intensive search no galls (zero) of T. acaciaelongifoliae
were observed in any non-target species. These observations included Cytisus striatus (giesta-das-serras) and
Acacia retinodes, the first because in quarantine tests eggs were detected in the buds of this species, and the
second because it has commercial value in Italy and was later tested. Nevertheless, T. acaciaelongifoliae was
not able to complete the cycle in any of them, with no galls observed in quarantine (Marchante et al. 2011b,
2017) or in the field.

2021
17
4. Conclusions
Overall, there is establishment of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae along most of the Portuguese Coast and
some more inland sites, from Camarido, in the north, to Faro, in the south of the country, in a total of at
least 48 sites. With increasing number of sites and galls per site, and dispersal of the agent to larger areas it
is impossible to detect and count the galls, but there is clearly a very accentuated increase in the
establishment of the biocontrol agent, including an increase in the number of galls, colonized plants, sites
with establishment and also in the extension of colonized areas. Most galls in sites with establishment since
2015 correspond probably to sixth generation of galls, although synchronization of T. acaciaelongifoliae with
Northern hemisphere conditions may be not complete and galls are observable in different months, and as
such we cannot be certain about the number of generations. Nevertheless, independently of the number of
generations, T. acaciaelongifoliae is establishing and spreading by its own means in Portugal, and at some
sites galls were observed several kilometres (up to 7km) from the establishment sites. Although it may be
expected that this spread happens naturally, given the rate of spread of T. acaciaelongifoliae observed in
South Africa of up to 20 km in two years (Dennill and Donnelly, 1991), it is not possible anymore to be
certain about the original populations or if dispersal was done by natural means or aided by any human
activity (e.g., transport of A. longifolia wood including galled branches; or anonymous citizens collecting galls
and releasing them after without our knowledge).
Although the number of plants with galls and the quantity of galls in each plant is still very small and sparse
compared to the numbers of available floral and vegetative buds of A. longifolia in the very extensive
invaded areas, it is noteworthy the very high number of galls per plant and site in some sites: the
monitoring show that T. acaciaelongifoliae is reducing the number of secondary branches, seeds and pods
in colonized plants, reducing both reproductive and vegetative growth of A. longifolia and consequently
its invasive potential.
Monitoring of establishment of T. acaciaelongifoliae and its effects on A. longifolia will continue, even if
more limited, with the collaboration of technicians / managers of release site and of the citizen science
project initiated in 2020. However, although the team from the Centre for Functional Ecology (both from
ESAC and UC) is committed to applying for new funding, it is somewhat worrying that both projects under
which release and monitoring campaigns were implemented (INVADER-IV and GANHA) are now finished and
funding to continue these campaigns is reduced (Projeto Piloto 9 F4F - Plantas invasoras) and continuity is
not yet guaranteed.
5. References
Dennill, G.B., 1985. The effect of the gall wasp Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on
reproductive potential and vegetativa growth of the Acacia longifolia. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 14, 53–61.
Dennill, G.B., Donnelly, D., 1991. Biological control of Acacia longifolia and related weed species (Fabaceae) in South
Africa. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 37, 115–135.
Jeger, M.J., Pautasso, M., Stancanelli, G., Vos, S., 2016. The EFSA assessment of Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae as
biocontrol agent of the invasive alien plant Acacia longifolia: a new area of activity for the EFSA Plant Health

2021
18
Panel? EPPO Bull. 46, 270–274. https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12306
Le Maitre, D.C., Gaertner, M., Marchante, E., Ens, E.J., Holmes, P.M., Pauchard, A., O’Farrell, P.J., Rogers, A.M.,
Blanchard, R., Blignaut, J., Richardson, D.M., 2011. Impacts of invasive Australian acacias: Implications for
management and restoration. Divers. Distrib. 17, 1015–1029. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00816.x
López-Núñez, F.A., Heleno, R.H., Ribeiro, S., Marchante, H., Marchante, E., 2017. Four-trophic level food webs reveal
the cascading impacts of an invasive plant targeted for biocontrol. Ecology 98, 782–793.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.1701
López-Núñez, F.A., Marchante, E., Heleno, R., Duarte, L., Palhas, J., Impson, F.A.C., Freitas, H., Marchante, E., 2021.
Establishment, spread and early impacts of the first biocontrol agent against an invasive plant in continental
Europe. J. Environ. Manage. 290, 112545. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112545
Marchante, E., Kjøller, A., Struwe, S., Freitas, H., 2009. Soil recovery after removal of the N2-fixing invasive Acacia
longifolia: Consequences for ecosystem restoration. Biol. Invasions 11, 813–823. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-
008-9295-1
Marchante, E., Kjøller, A., Struwe, S., Freitas, H., 2008. Short and long-term impacts of Acacia longifolia invasion on the
belowground processes of a Mediterranean coastal dune ecosystem. Appl. Soil Ecol. 40, 210–217.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsoil.2008.04.004
Marchante, E., López-Núñez, F.A., Duarte, L.N., Marchante, H., n.d. The role of citizen science in biodiversity
monitoring: when invasive species and insects meet, in: Biological Invasions and Global Insect Deline.
Marchante, H., Freitas, H., Hoffmann, J.H., 2011a. Post-clearing recovery of coastal dunes invaded by Acacia longifolia:
Is duration of invasion relevant for management success? J. Appl. Ecol. 48, 1295–1304.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.02020.x
Marchante, H., Freitas, H., Hoffmann, J.H., 2011b. Assessing the suitability and safety of a well-known bud-galling wasp,
Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae, for biological control of Acacia longifolia in Portugal. Biol. Control 56, 193–201.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2010.11.001
Marchante, H., Freitas, H., Hoffmann, J.H., 2010. Seed ecology of an invasive alien species, Acacia longifolia (Fabaceae),
in Portuguese dune ecosystems. Am. J. Bot. 97, 1780–1790. https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.1000091
Marchante, H., López-núñez, F.A., Freitas, H., Hoffmann, J.H.J.H., Impson, F., Marchante, E., 2017. First report of the
establishment of the biocontrol agent Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae for control of invasive Acacia longifolia in
Portugal. EPPO Bull. 47, 274–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12373
Marchante, H., Marchante, E., Freitas, H., Hoffmann, J.H., 2015. Temporal changes in the impacts on plant communities
of an invasive alien tree, Acacia longifolia. Plant Ecol. 216, 1481–1498. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-015-0530-
4
Noble, N.S., 1940. Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae (Froggatt) (hymenopt., chalcidoidea), a wasp causing galling of the
flower-buds of Acacia longifolia Willd. A. floribunda Sieber and A. sophorae R. . Br. Trans. R. Entomol. Soc. London
90, 13–38.
Presidência do Conselho de Ministros, 2019. Decreto-Lei no
92/2019, 10 de julho de 2019, Diário da República, 1.a
série
— N.o
130.
Shaw, R., Schaffner, U., Marchante, E., 2016. The regulation of biological control of weeds in Europe – an evolving
landscape. EPPO Bull. 46, 254–258. https://doi.org/10.1111/epp.12308
Wilson, J.R.U., Gairifo, C., Gibson, M.R., Arianoutsou, M., Bakar, B., Baret, S., Celesti-Grapow, L., Ditomaso, J.M., Dufour-
Dror, J.M., Kueffer, C., Kull, C.A., Hoffmann, J.H., Impson, F.A.C., Loope, L., Marchante, E., Marchante, H., Moore,
J.L., Murphy, D.J., Tassin, J., Witt, A., Zenni, R.D., Richardson, D.M., 2011. Risk assessment, eradication, and
biological control: Global efforts to limit Australian acacia invasions. Divers. Distrib. 17, 1030–1046.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2011.00815.x

2021
19
Annex 1. Table A1. FULL NAMES of the SITES referred in the text, figures and tables (1/3 pages)
CODE SITE SHORT NAME SITE FULL NAME COORDINATES
ALH Alhadas (Cabecinho) Alhadas (Cabecinho), Figueira da Foz 40.174834,-8.787518
ALHQ Alhadas (areeiro) Alhadas (areeiro) 40.2021111, -8.7884639
ALM Almograve
Parque Natural do Sudoeste Alentejano e Costa
Vicentina (Almograve)
37.637749,-8.784605
ANH Anha Anha, Viana do Castelo 41.674618,-8.801127
ANO Anobra Anobra, Condeixa-a-Nova 40.161626,-8.510096
ANT Antas Parque Natural do Litoral Norte (Antas) 41.61092,-8.80828
ARE Praia do Areão Praia do Areão, Vagos 40.491751,-8.788856
ARG Argela
Perímetro Florestal Serras de Vieira e Monte
Crasto (Caminha)
41.852682,-8.786086
POR Porches Porches (Praia Vale do Olival) 37.102117,-8.371548
ARR Estrada Setúbal - praias Parque Natural da Arrábida 38.496597,-8.930805
BAR Porto das Barcas
Vicentina (Porto das Barcas)
37.551772,-8.791497
BEZ Barrinha de Esmoriz Barrinha de Esmoriz, Esmoriz 40.963981,-8.647378
BMO Barragem de Morgavél Barragem de Morgavél, Sines 37.918682,-8.749114
BRE Brescos Brescos, Santiago do Cacém 38.105037,-8.77737
BRJ Brejinhos Brejinhos, Vila Nova de Santo André 38.031267,-8.808383
BZM Belazaima do Chão Belazaima do Chão, Águeda 40.527697,-8.330153
CAL Calvão Calvão, Vagos 40.470903,-8.685942
CAM Camarido Mata Nacional do Camarido 41.86106,-8.863898
CAP Praias da Costa da Caparica
Paisagem Protegida da Arriba Fóssil da Costa da
Caparica (margem)
38.599935,-9.20743
CAR Carapinheira, Mafra Carapinheira, Mafra 38.935492,-9.276104
CARR Carreço Carreço, Viana do Castelo 41.754159,-8.87547
CARR1 Carreço 1 Carreço 1, Viana do Castelo 41.7374,-8.8509
COI Coimbra (Pólo II) Coimbra (Pólo II from University of Coimbra) 40.18588,-8.41358
COI1 Coimbra (Patos) Coimbra (Patos) 40.209237,-8.401237
COV Covões Covões, Coimbra 40.194632,-8.466302
EIX Eixo Eixo, Aveiro 40.620281,-8.568342
EIX2 Eixo (Quinta de S. Francisco) Eixo (Quinta de S. Francisco), Aveiro 40.616127,-8.567075
ESP Esposende Parque Natural do Litoral Norte (Esposende) 41.508999,-8.784351
ESP 2 Esposende 2 Esposende 2 41.499313,-8.775334
EST Coimbra (ESAC) Coimbra (ESAC, greenhouse) 40.216722,-8.450210
EVR Évora Valverde, Évora 38.533685,-8.031304
FAL Falca Praia da Falca, Alcobaça 39.640147,-9.069502
FAR Faro Parque Natural da Ria Formosa (Ludo, Faro) 37.028391,-8.005642
FIG Figueira da Foz Figueira da Foz 40.148682,-8.836959
FIG1 Figueira da Foz (Rotunda LIDL) Figueira da Foz (Rotunda LIDL) 40.157502,-8.849582
FIG2 Figueira da Foz (McDonald´s) Figueira da Foz (McDonald´s) 40.166223,-8.853586
GAL Gala, Parque de Merendas Gala, Parque de Merendas, Figueira da Foz 40.123295,-8.859909
GEL Gelfa Mata Nacional da Gelfa, Âncora 41.789493,-8.869711
HEL Condeixa Condeixa-a-Nova 40.113693,-8.513775
IP3 Acesso IP3 Acesso IP3, S. Miguel do Outeiro, Viseu 40.586589,-8.015036
LAG Lagoa da Vela
Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios (Lagoa da
Vela)
40.269481,-8.799287

2021
20
Table A1. FULL NAMES of the SITES referred in the text, figures and tables (2/3 pages)
LAV Lavos
Mata Nacional das Dunas da Costa de Lavos
(Lavos)
40.097376,-8.856496
LEI Leirosa Mata Nacional das Dunas da Leirosa (Leirosa) 40.076190,-8.865008
LET Leitões Leitões, Mira 40.429927,-8.712309
LOB Covão do Lobo Covão do Lobo, Vagos 40.447997,-8.646407
LSA Lagoas de Santo André
Reserva Natural das Lagoas de Santo André e da
Sancha
37.991658,-8.854934
LSA1 Lagoas de Santo André 1
Sancha 1 (Lagoa de Santo André)
38.084201,-8.784392
MAD Monte da Madalena
Perimetro Florestal Entre Lima e Neiva (Monte
da Madalena, Ponte de Lima)
41.750916,-8.561963
MAI Maiorca Maiorca, Figueira da Foz 40.158837,-8.734734
MIR Mira
Perímetro Florestal Dunas e Pinhais de Mira
(Mira)
40.394569,-8.789050
MMA Mata da Machada Mata Nacional da Machada 38.619271,-9.038819
MOR Morraceira Morraceira, Figueira da Foz 40.139481,-8.844876
MUR Mata do Urso Mata Nacional do Urso 39.983285,-8.914007
MUR1 Mata do Urso 1 Mata Nacional do Urso 40.011343,-8.870597
MUR2 Mata do Urso 2 Mata Nacional do Urso 40.03914,-8.88194
PAT Paredes da Vitoria (Pataias) Paredes da Vitoria (Pataias) 39.707963,-9.048827
PAT 2 Pataias 2 39.662347,-9.002107
PCA Praia do Carvalhal
Vicentina (Praia do Carvalhal)
37.50392,-8.790064
PED Pedrogão Mata Nacional do Pedrogão 39.937940,-8.927712
PEN Quinta Pentieiros Quinta Pentieiros, Viana do Castelo 41.775557,-8.657753
POC1 Pocariça (Cantanhede1)
Pocariça, propriedade do Sr. Mário Mendes
(Cantanhede)
40.382712,-8.574368
POC2 Pocariça (Cantanhede2)
Pocariça, vizinho Sr. Mário Mendes
(Cantanhede)
40.37305,-8.579074
PQS Pesqueiro Sancha
Sancha (Pesqueiro Sancha)
38.02586,-8.82275
PRA Rio Pranto (Moinho da Maré) Rio Pranto (Moinho da Maré); Figueira da Foz 40.115566,-8.819142
QUD Dunas de Quiaios
Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios (Dunas
Quiaios)
40.22476,-8.88622
QUP Quiaios N
Mata Nacional das Dunas de Quiaios (Pinhal
Quiaios)
40.241645,-8.854573
RBA
Riba de Âncora (Baldios de Riba
de Âncora)
Perímetro Florestal de Serras de Vieira e Monte
Crasto (por confirmar) - Riba de Âncora (Baldios
de Riba de Âncora)
41.808889,-8.796121
GON Gondar e Orbacém Gondar e Orbacém, Caminha 41.821084,-8.787055
SAD Estrada Tróia - Comporta
Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado (Estrada
Tróia - Comporta)
38.426573,-8.824844
SAR Cabo Sardão
Vicentina (Cabo Sardão)
37.61438,-8.804001
SARG Serra de Arga (Covas) 41.853378,-8.665701
SARG1 Serra de Arga 41.830093,-8.612093
SBV Serra da Boa Viagem
Mata Nacional do Prazo de Santa Marinha
(Serra Boa Viagem)
40.20037,-8.88969

2021
21
Table A1. FULL NAMES of the SITES referred in the text, figures and tables (3/3 pages)
SEI Seixo
Perímetro Florestal Dunas e Pinhais de Mira
(Seixo, Vagos)
40.497200, -8.754436
SIN1 Monte Feio - Sines 1 Área Florestal de Sines (Monte Feio - Sines 1) 37.981616, -8.845499
SIN2 Monte Feio - Sines 2 Área Florestal de Sines (Monte Feio - Sines 2) 37.996261, -8.842971
SIN3 Sines 3 Área Florestal de Sines (Sines 3) 37.981741,-8.76415
SIN4 Sines 4 Área Florestal de Sines (Sines 4) 37.924986,-8.794867
SJD Dunas de São Jacinto Reserva Natural das Dunas de S. Jacinto 40.672717,-8.740729
SOS Sosa Sosa, Vagos 40.549646,-8.667132
SOU Soure Soure 40.099786,-8.619687
SOV Santo Ovídeo
Perimetro Florestal Entre Lima e Neiva (Santo
Ovídeo, Ponte de Lima)
41.779186,-8.606498
SPI Espinho
Perímetro Florestal Dunas de Ovar (Maceda,
Espinho)
40.923320,-8.658262
SPM São Pedro de Moel Mata Nacional de Leiria (São Pedro de Moel) 39.75711,-9.02338
STA Estarreja 40.758341,-8.595584
STC Praia do navio, Santa Cruz Praia do navio, Santa Cruz 39.144362,-9.371916
TEI Lagoa dos Teixoeiros Lagoa dos Teixoeiros, Tocha 40.310908,-8.764749
TOC Tocha
Perímetro Florestal das Dunas de Cantanhede
(Tocha)
40.34837,-8.81704
TOC1 Tocha N
(Tocha Norte)
40.320083,-8.845127
TOC2 Tocha (Caniceira) Caniceira, Tocha 40.3476,-8.77368
TOC3 Cruzamento Tocha
(cruzamento Tocha)
40.3254768,-8.8131098
TOC4 Charco Berlengas Charco Berlengas 40.32656634,-8.7821874
TOC5 Tocha 5 (Norte) Tocha 40.323949,-8.743228
VAG Dunas Vagos (GANHA)
Perímetro Florestal das Dunas de Vagos (Dunas
Vagos)
40.535932,-8.74104
VIC Viana do Castelo Viana do Castelo 41.702256,-8.837369
VIC1 Viana do Castelo 1 (Norte)
Perímetro Florestal de Santa Luzia (Viana do
Castelo)
41.749177,-8.831553
VIG Vigía Vigía, Vagos 40.516265,-8.725941
VIV Vila Verde Vila Verde, Figueira da Foz 40.154741,-8.795803
VLE Vieira de Leiria Mata Nacional de Leiria (Vieira de Leiria) 39.865863,-8.971235
VNF Vila Nova de Mil Fontes
Vicentina (Vila Nova de Mil Fontes - Praia das
Furnas)
37.714934, -8.7845
VNF1 Vila Nova de Mil Fontes (Norte)
Vicentina (Vila Nova de Mil Fontes - Norte)
37.752877,-8.790966
VNR Vila Nova da Rainha Vila Nova da Rainha, Tondela 40.47055,-8.09458
VNS Vila Nova de Santo André 38.056644,-8.777166

2021
22
Annex 2. Published article López-Núñez et al., 2021.

2021
23

2021
24

2021
25

2021
26

2021
27

2021
28

2021
29

2021
30

2021
31

2021
32
Annex 3. LIST OF NON-TARGET PLANTS monitored in 2020 and 2021 for galls of
Trichilogaster acaciaelongifoliae.
Number of plants observed Number of biocontrol galls
Non-target species 2020 2021 2020 2021
Acacia dealbata 7 9 0 0
Acacia mearnsii 1 3 0 0
Acacia melanoxylon 27 62 0 0
Acacia pycnantha 0 2 0
Acacia retinodes 4 9 0 0
Acacia saligna 5 6 0 0
Anagallis monelli 0 1 0
Arbutus unedo 3 2 0 0
Artemisia crithmifolia 0 1 0
Asparagus sp. 0 1 0
Cackile maritima 0 1 0
Calluna vulgaris 0 2 0
Carpobrotus edulis 0 2 0
Cistus ladanifer 0 1 0
Cistus monspeliensis 0 1 0
Cistus psilosepalus 1 1 0 0
Cistus salviifolius 17 25 0 0
Cistus sp. 5 0 0
Corema album 18 14 0 0
Coronilla glauca 0 1 0
Crucianella maritima 0 1 0
Cytisus sp. (C. striatus or C. grandiflorus) 19 47 0 0
Daphne gnidium 0 1 0
Erica cinerea 1 0 0
Erica sp. 1 5 0 0
Eucalyptus globulus 0 2 0
Fraxinus angustifolia 1 0 0
Genista sp. 0 10 0
Genista triacanthus 0 1 0
Hakea sericea 0 1 0
Halimium calycinum 0 5 0
Halimium halimifolium 0 2 0
Helichrysum picardii 0 2 0
Juniperus turbinata 3 4 0 0
Myrica faya 14 15 0 0
Ononis sp. 0 1 0
Other species 1 0 0
Pinus pinaster 0 2 0
Pistacia lentiscus 0 1 0
Pterospartum tridentatum -0 5 0
Quercus faginea 2 0 0
Quercus faginea cf. 0 1 0
Quercus lusitanica 0 1 0
Quercus robur 1 2 0 0
Quercus sp. 0 2 0
Quercus suber 2 2 0 0
Rhamnus alaternus 0 1 0
Rubia peregrina 0 1 0
Salix arenaria 0 1 0
Salix atrocinerea 1 0 0
Salix sp. 0 2 0
Scirpoides holoschoenus 0 1 0
Stauracanthus genistoides 3 38 0 0
Ulex sp. 23 106 0 0
Total 160 407 0 0

Sixth report on Trichilogaster establishment - 2021

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Sixth report on Trichilogaster establishment - 2021

Similar to Sixth report on Trichilogaster establishment - 2021 (20)

More from Plantas Invasoras em Portugal

More from Plantas Invasoras em Portugal (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Sixth report on Trichilogaster establishment - 2021