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.

The life history, host specificity and potential of alagoasa parana Samuelson (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) for biological control of Lantana camara in Australia

1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 511-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Winder ◽  
D. P. A. Sands ◽  
R. C. Kassulke
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Life History ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Passiflora Edulis ◽  
Immature Development

AbstractIn southern Brazil, adults and larvae of the halticine beetle Alagoasa parana Samuelson fed on the foliage and flowers of Lantana tiliaefolia and L. glutinosa (Verbenaceae). The life-cycle of this univoltine species from egg to adult emergence took 80-90 days between October and April. The abundance varied seasonally from four to eight adults per 100 branches. Larvae remained on the foliage during development and pupated in moist, loose, friable soil within a cocoon at the base of the host-plant. Adults overwintered and oviposited in litter at the base of the host-plant. In multiple-choice host- specificity studies in Australia, adults fed lightly on Verbena bonariensis and Clerodendrum speciosissimum (Verbenaceae) and produced minute scars on leaves on unrelated passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus). However, A. parana completed immature development only on L. camara among the 55 plants tested. The potential of A. parana as a biological control agent for L. camara in Australia is discussed.

Studies on Theocolax formiciformis Westw. (Hym., Pteromalidae), a parasite of Anobium punctatum (Deg.) (Col., Anobiidae)

1964 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 797-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean M. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Wood Surface ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Glass Plate ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Cent Relative Humidity ◽  
Anobium Punctatum

A description is given of the life-cycle in Britain of Theocolax formiciformis Westw. (Pteromalidae), a parasite of Anobium punctatum (Deg.) (Anobiidae). Adults emerge from infested wood in large numbers from April to June. Eggs are laid through the wood surface and use was made of this habit as a means of rearing this parasite under observation in the laboratory. Anobium larvae were placed individually in channels gouged in the surface of 3-inch squares of plywood. They were covered with tracing paper and the parasites were caged on this by means of a glass ring covered with a glass plate. Development from egg to adult at 22 and 25°C., and 75 per cent, relative humidity, averaged about five and six weeks, respectively, compared with 12 weeks outdoors in summer. The number of progeny per female was highest (approximately five) at 22°C., at which the ratio of males to females was 1:3. Only about one per cent, of the adults reared were winged. The use of Theocolax as a biological-control agent is not considered practical.

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