A contribution to the biology ofBangasternus fausti [Col.: Curculionidae], a potential biological control agent of diffuse knapweed,Centaurea diffusa, and its effect on the host plant

Entomophaga ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sobhian ◽  
G. Campobasso ◽  
P. H. Dunn
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Centaurea Diffusa ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed

Biological Control of Diffuse Knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) and Spotted Knapweed (C. maculosa)

Weed Science ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald M. Maddox
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Flower Head ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
Centaurea Diffusa ◽  
Weedy Species ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed ◽  
Number Of Seeds

Diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.) and spotted knapweed (C. maculosa Lam.) presently infest approximately 1.5 million ha of pasture and rangeland in Washington, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and California. The serious losses caused on lands where returns from herbicidal control are marginal or less prompted the testing and introduction of two strains of a seed-head fly (Urophora affinis Frlfld.) as a biological-control agent in these states. Over 27 000 flies were released in about equal numbers on both weeds during the years 1974 to 1977 and in 1979 and 1980. The fly became established in all states where it was released. The adult was found to disperse over 76 m from release point from 1974 to 1976, and to reduce the number of seeds per flower head in sampled heads by 80% in northern Washington and over 64% at the Heppner, Oregon site. A newly released moth (Metzneria paucipunctella Zell.) and a root-boring beetle (Spbenoptera jugoslavica Obenb.) are expected to cause additional pressure on these plants. The reproductive potential of the knapweeds is such that more natural enemies will be needed to provide enough stress to reduce these weedy species to an acceptable level.

scholarly journals Identification and host-plant associations of Australian Sericothripinae (Thysanoptera, Thripidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 1983 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAURENCE A. MOUND ◽  
DESLEY TREE
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
New Species ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Complex Surface ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
European Species ◽  
Plant Associations

The Sericothripinae is a largely tropical group of about 140 species that are often strikingly bicoloured and have complex surface sculpture, but for which the biology is poorly known. Although 15 genera have been described in this subfamily, only three of these are currently recognised, with five new generic synonymies indicated here. In Australia, Sericothrips Haliday is introduced, with one European species deployed as a weed biological control agent. Hydatothrips Karny comprises 43 species worldwide, with six species found in Australia, of which two are shared with Southeast Asia, and four are associated with the native vine genus, Parsonsia. Neohydatothrips John comprises 96 species worldwide, with nine species in Australia, of which one is shared with Southeast Asia and two are presumably introduced from the Americas. Illustrated keys are provided to the three genera and 16 species from Australia, including six new species [Hydatothrips aliceae; H. bhattii; H. williamsi; Neohydatothrips barrowi, N. bellissi, N. katherinae]. One new specific synonym is recognised [Hydatothrips haschemi Girault (=H. palawanensis Kudo)], also four new generic synonyms [Neohydatothrips John (=Faureana Bhatti; Onihothrips Bhatti; Sariathrips Bhatti; Papiliothrips Bhatti); Sericothrips Haliday (=Susserico- thrips Han)].

The molecular basis of host plant selection in Melaleuca quinquenervia by a successful biological control agent

2010 ◽  
Vol 71 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1237-1244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Padovan ◽  
Andras Keszei ◽  
Tobias G. Köllner ◽  
Jörg Degenhardt ◽  
William J. Foley
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Molecular Basis ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Host Plant Selection ◽  
Melaleuca Quinquenervia ◽  
Plant Selection

BIOLOGY OF AGAPETA ZOEGANA (LEPIDOPTERA: COCHYLIDAE), PROPAGATED FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF KNAPWEEDS (ASTERACEAE)

2000 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
George W. Powell ◽  
Brian M. Wikeem ◽  
Allen Sturko
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Spotted Knapweed ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Centaurea Diffusa ◽  
Calendar Date ◽  
Accumulated Degree Days

AbstractWe examined the influence of temperature and release density on the root-boring moth, Agapeta zoegana L., a biological control agent of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa Lam., and spotted knapweed, Centaurea maculosa Lam. Moths were released at six densities (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 adult male–female pairs) in each of 2 years (1992 and 1993 cohorts) into outdoor, caged plots containing spotted knapweed. Air temperature, larval establishment and mass, and adult emergence, mass, and body dimensions were measured. Larval production increased linearly with adult release density in both cohorts. Larval survival ranged from 0 to 100% and was not correlated with release density or accumulated degree-days in either year. Date of first emergence occurred earlier as both release density and larvae per plant increased, but only for the 1992 cohort. Declining resources or increased contact among the larvae may induce early pupation. Peak emergence rate increased with release density in both cohorts. First emergence was related more closely to calendar date than accumulated degree-days. In contrast, peak emergence rates were more consistent with degree-day accumulations between cohorts than calendar date. Adult production increased with parental release density in both cohorts. Females were heavier, wider, and longer than males. Optimal A. zoegana production will be achieved with releases of greater than 1.6 male–female adult pairs per spotted knapweed plant.

Biology of Bucculatrix parthenica Bradley sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) and its establishment in Australia as a biological control agent for Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae)

1990 ◽  
Vol 80 (4) ◽  
pp. 427-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. McClay ◽  
R. E. McFadyen ◽  
J. D. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Field Conditions ◽  
Parthenium Hysterophorus ◽  
Leaf Miners

AbstractBucculatrix parthenica Bradley sp. n., a moth native to Mexico, is described. It has been released and established in Queensland, Australia, as a biological control agent for its host plant, Parthenium hysterophorus. The moth oviposits on leaves of its host. First and second instar larvae are leaf miners, and later instars feed externally on the leaves. The life cycle occupies about 25 days under field conditions. B. parthenica was narrowly oligophagous in host-specificity tests. In Mexico the insect is scarce but in Queensland it has become abundant enough to cause extensive defoliation of its host plant at some sites. Its rapid increase in Queensland is attributed to the absence of parasitism.

scholarly journals Host specificity of Aceria centaureae (Nalepa), a candidate for biological control of Centaurea dίffusa De Lamarck

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Sobhian ◽  
Β. Ι. Katsouannos ◽  
J. Kashefi
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Carthamus Tinctorius ◽  
The Other ◽  
Centaurea Solstitialis ◽  
Gall Formation ◽  
Centaurea Diffusa ◽  
Gall Mite ◽  
Diffuse Knapweed ◽  
Test Plants

Filed collected rosettes or twigs of Centaurea diffusa De Lamarck, infested by the gall mite Aceria centaureae, were fixed onto appropriately grown and planted test plants of ten different species in the area of Thessaloniki, Greece, in 1985 and 1986. The test plants were inspected for presence of galls and mites a few to several days after their contact with the infested twigs. Gall formation occurred on all of the Centaurea diffusa test plants, either of Greek or U.S. origin, and on some of the Centaurea solstitialis, L. test plants. No galls or other mite damage could be found on the other test plants, which were Carthamus tinctorius L. (safflower), Cirsiton creticion (De Lamarck) D’Urville, of local origin and six Cirsium species of U.S. origin, i.e. cymosum (Greene) J. T. Howell, occidentals (Nutt) Jeps., pastoris Howell, andersonii (Gray) Petrak, brevistylum Crong; and undulation (Nutt.) Spreng. These results suggest that A. centaureae most probably has a very restricted host plant range, feeding only on weedy Centaurea spp. Thus the mite should be considered as a possible candidate for biological control of diffuse knapweed in the U.S.A. and Canada.

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