Officials OK Insect Release To Control Invasive Vine

The U.S. federal government has approved the release of a non-indigenous [nonnative]

insect on Guam and in the Northern Marianas to control the rapid spread of a vine that is

covering forests like a blanket, the Saipan Tribune reports.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has given the green light to breed and release the

Heteropsylla spinulosa insect, which eats the Mimosa dilotricha [diplotricha] vine. The fastspreading

plant is found in many Pacific Islands, but is particularly widespread in the

Northern Marianas and on Guam. It usually kills the trees and shrubs that it covers.

Officials will collect the insect from Pohnpei, in the Federated States of Micronesia,

Palau and Australia.

Source: “Officials OK Insect Release To Control Invasive Vine,” 4/2/08,


Discuss the advantages of using the insect to control the rapid spread of the Mimosa diplotricha vine

on Guam and the Northern Marianas. In your answer, be sure to:


• state one possible way the Mimosa diplotricha vine kills trees and shrubs