Feeding impacts of a leafy spurge biological control agent on a native plant, Euphorbia robusta.

2009 ◽  
pp. 503-506
Author(s):  
J. L. Baker ◽  
N. A. P. Webber
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Native Plant

scholarly journals Feeding Impacts of a Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) Biological Control Agent on a Native Plant, Euphorbia robusta

2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
John L. Baker ◽  
Nancy A. P. Webber
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Euphorbia Esula ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Feeding Damage ◽  
Aphthona Nigriscutis

AbstractThe biological control agent Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras (Chrysomelidae) established in Fremont County, WY since 1992 on leafy spurge was released into a mixed stand a native plant Euphorbia robusta Engelm. During host range testing, E. robusta was a likely host for A. nigriscutis under laboratory conditions. In 1999, A. nigriscutis was observed feeding on both E. esula and 31 of 36 E. robusta plants present on about 2 ha (5 ac) where the visually estimated E. esula canopy cover was 50%. By August 2001, E. esula cover had declined to less than 5% and E. robusta plants had increased to 450 plants with 26 (5.8%) showing feeding damage. In 2006 Euphorbia esula ground cover was 2% and of 598 E. robusta plants originally marked, 391 could be located and four of these had damage consistent with A. nigriscutis feeding. For the 8-yr period, E. esula ground cover was inversely correlated to E. robusta density and positively correlated to A. nigriscutis feeding damage on E. robusta. This study shows that while also acceptable to A. nigriscutis in the field, feeding on E. robusta declined with declining densities of the target weed while E. robusta population densities increased. It seems that some risk in this regard is acceptable in light of the damage from the target weed and the generally high level of selectivity provided by biological control agents.

scholarly journals Biological and Host Range Characteristics of Lysathia flavipes (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a Candidate Biological Control Agent of Invasive Ludwigia spp. (Onagraceae) in the USA

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 471
Author(s):  
Angelica M. Reddy ◽  
Paul D. Pratt ◽  
Brenda J. Grewell ◽  
Nathan E. Harms ◽  
Ximena Cibils-Stewart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Range ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Biocontrol Agent ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Physical And Chemical

Exotic water primroses (Ludwigia spp.) are aggressive invaders in aquatic ecosystems worldwide. To date, management of exotic Ludwigia spp. has been limited to physical and chemical control methods. Biological control provides an alternative approach for the management of invasive Ludwigia spp. but little is known regarding the natural enemies of these exotic plants. Herein the biology and host range of Lysathia flavipes (Boheman), a herbivorous beetle associated with Ludwigia spp. in Argentina and Uruguay, was studied to determine its suitability as a biocontrol agent for multiple closely related target weeds in the USA. The beetle matures from egg to adult in 19.9 ± 1.4 days at 25 °C; females lived 86.3 ± 35.6 days and laid 1510.6 ± 543.4 eggs over their lifespans. No-choice development and oviposition tests were conducted using four Ludwigia species and seven native plant species. Lysathia flavipes showed little discrimination between plant species: larvae aggressively fed and completed development, and the resulting females (F1 generation) oviposited viable eggs on most plant species regardless of origin. These results indicate that L. flavipes is not sufficiently host-specific for further consideration as a biocontrol agent of exotic Ludwigia spp. in the USA and further testing is not warranted.

Microsatellite isolation from the gall midge Spurgia capitigena (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a biological control agent of leafy spurge

2004 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 605-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
CASANDRA J. LLOYD ◽  
ANDREW P. NORTON ◽  
RUTH A. HUFBAUER ◽  
STEVEN M. BOGDANOWICZ ◽  
SCOTT J. NISSEN
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Gall Midge ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Microsatellite Isolation

AnAlternariasp. on Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

Weed Science ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Krupinsky ◽  
Russell J. Lorenz
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Field Studies ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Euphorbia Esula ◽  
Cultural Characteristics ◽  
Representative Strain

In 1979 and 1980, isolates ofAlternariawere obtained from diseased leafy spurge (Euphorbia esulaL.) plants. The pathogenicity of anAlternariasp. towards leafy spurge was demonstrated in glasshouse and limited field studies, and theAlternariais considered to be a potential biological - control agent for leafy spurge. The pathogenicity and cultural characteristics of the fungus suggest its classification asA. tenuissimaf. sp.euphorbiae,with isolate Krupinsky 80-3547ss4 (= E. G. Simmons 35-079) as a representative strain.

Postrelease Evaluation of Mecinus janthinus Host Specificity, a Biological Control Agent for Invasive Toadflax (Linaria spp.)

Weed Science ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nehalem C. Breiter ◽  
Timothy R. Seastedt
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Host Specificity ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Weed Biological Control ◽  
Native Plant Species ◽  
Mecinus Janthinus

Toadflax invasion into natural areas has prompted interest in weed management via biological control. The most promising biological control agent currently available for the control of Dalmatian toadflax is Mecinus janthinus, a stem-boring weevil that has been shown to significantly reduce toadflax populations. Some land managers, however, are reluctant to release approved weed biological control agents based on concerns about possible nontarget impacts. Few postrelease examinations of biocontrol impact and host specificity have been performed, despite the call for such information. This study examined the host specificity of Mecinus janthinus, postrelease, in relation to Colorado sites to provide information to managers about its relative safety as a weed biological control agent. This study employed three components: (1) greenhouse choice and no-choice experiments; (2) no-choice caged field experiments; and (3) release-site evaluation of nontarget use of native plant species where this weevil has been released and has established. Both greenhouse and field experiments failed to demonstrate nontarget use of native plant species by M. janthinus in the region where it was studied, even in no-choice starvation tests. We found no evidence of nontarget herbivory on native plants growing at toadflax sites where M. janthinus was well established. These results support the continued use of M. janthinus as a low-risk biological control agent for the management of toadflax in the Rocky Mountain Front Range.

Population Dynamics and Impacts of the Red-Headed Leafy Spurge Stem Borer on Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula)

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Progar ◽  
George Markin ◽  
Joseph Milan ◽  
Tom Barbouletos ◽  
Matthew J. Rinella
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Stem Borer ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Euphorbia Esula ◽  
Western United States ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
And Control

AbstractWe evaluated the efficacy of the biological control agent, red-headed leafy spurge stem borer, against the nonnative invasive plant leafy spurge. Our three treatments were release of the biological control agent into uncaged plots, release of the biological control agent into plots caged to prevent agent escape, and control plots caged to prevent agent entry. These treatments were replicated three times at six sites in the western United States. We measured leafy spurge biomass for 1 or 2 yr following release. We also measured the percentage of leafy spurge stems showing evidence of red-headed leafy spurge stem borer oviposition for either 1 or 2 yr following agent release, depending on the site. Red-headed leafy spurge stem borer did not demonstrably reduce leafy spurge biomass in our study. Moreover, compared to the release year, evidence of red-headed leafy spurge stem borer oviposition declined with time, suggesting the agent population was diminishing. This suggests the agent is incapable of building large populations capable of controlling leafy spurge at the sites we studied. However, after being released, populations of biological control agents sometimes go through long lag phases and then begin rapid population increases, so we cannot completely dismiss the possibility that red-headed leafy spurge stem borer might become effective given more time.

scholarly journals Utilization of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) by Sheep

Weed Science ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 348-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara K. Landgraf ◽  
Peter K. Fay ◽  
Kris M. Havstad
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Leafy Spurge ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Significant Loss ◽  
Euphorbia Esula ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Grazing Behavior

The forage selection and grazing behavior of sheep in leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L. ♯3 EPHES)-infested pastures was examined in a 3-month grazing study conducted during the summer, 1981. No definite preference for or avoidance of leafy spurge was detected. An initial 1- to 3-week avoidance was observed, followed by a steady increase in leafy spurge consumption. A maximum intake of 40 to 50% of the diet per animal was observed. Weight gain by ewes in pastures infested with leafy spurge was not significantly different from weight gain by ewes in pastures free of leafy spurge. Results from these studies indicate that leafy spurge may be classified as a forage for sheep. Sheep will consume a significant amount of vegetation while suffering neither harmful internal effects nor a significant loss of body weight. Sheep can be considered an effective biological control agent for leafy spurge.

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