scholarly journals Taxonomic Description of Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a Seed Parasite of Cheatgrass, Anisantha tectorum, Based on Morphological and Mitochondrial DNA Data

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 755
Author(s):  
Brian G. Rector ◽  
Raymond J. Gagné ◽  
Juan Manuel Perilla López ◽  
Kirk C. Tonkel ◽  
Marie-Claude Bon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Gall Midge ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Population Diversity ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Sequence Comparisons ◽  
Gall Midges ◽  
The Balkans

Cheatgrass is an annual grass species from Eurasia that has become invasive in much of western North America. It has been implicated in recent increases in the frequency, size, and intensity of wildfires, contributing to severe economic, environmental, and social destruction. In order to reduce this damage, the USDA-ARS established a classical biological control program against cheatgrass. In 2018 and 2019, adult gall midges were collected emerging from cheatgrass seed heads collected at several sites in Bulgaria and Greece; this is the first gall midge ever recorded from cheatgrass. Morphological comparisons with related midge species recorded from other plant hosts revealed that this midge from cheatgrass is a new species, described here as Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. This status was supported by sequence comparisons of a barcode region of the gene encoding the mitochondrial cytochrome c subunit I (CO1) protein in Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. and three congeners. The present study is the first to report MT-CO1 data in the genus Stenodiplosis. The ingroup Stenodiplosis tectori n. sp. collected in the Balkans grouped in one phylogenetic supported clade, with an average K2P-distance from its closest related congener, S. sorghicola, of 7.73% (SD = 1.10). The findings indicated relatively high year-to-year within-population diversity. Implications for this gall midge’s utility as a biological control agent of cheatgrass are discussed.

Biological traits and the complex of parasitoids of the elm pest Orchestes steppensis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Xinjiang, China

2017 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. Li ◽  
S.V. Triapitsyn ◽  
C. Wang ◽  
W. Zhong ◽  
H.-Y. Hu
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Natural Enemies ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Field Investigation ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Biological Traits

AbstractThe flee-weevil Orchestes steppensis Korotyaev (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a steppe eastern Palaearctic species, notable as a serious pest of elms (Ulmus spp., Ulmaceae), by feeding on the leaves (adults) or mining them heavily (larvae), especially of Ulmus pumila L. in Xinjiang, China. We have corrected the previous misidentifications of this weevil in China as O. alni (L.) or O. mutabilis Boheman and demonstrated that it is likely to be an invasive species in Xinjiang. Prior to this study, natural enemies of O. steppensis were unknown in Xinjiang. Resulting from field investigation and rearing in the laboratory during 2013–2016, seven parasitoid species were found to be primary and solitary, attacking larval and pupal stages of the host weevil. Pteromalus sp. 2 is the dominant species and also is the most competitive among the seven parasitoids, which could considered to be a perspective biological control agent of O. steppensis. Yet, the current control of this pest by the local natural enemies in Xinjiang is still currently inefficient, even though in 2016 parasitism was about 36% on U. pumila in Urumqi, so the potential for a classical biological control program against it needs to be further investigated, including an assessment of its parasitoids and other natural enemies in the native range of O. steppensis. The presented information on the natural enemies of this weevil can be also important for a potential classical biological control program against it in North America (Canada and USA), where it is a highly damaging and rapidly spreading invasive species.

scholarly journals Classical Biological Control of Tropical Soda Apple with Gratiana boliviana

EDIS ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Diaz ◽  
Julio Medal ◽  
Kenneth Hibbard ◽  
Amy Roda ◽  
A. Fox ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Conservation Areas ◽  
Tropical Soda Apple ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Stocking Rates

Tropical soda apple is a prickly shrub native to South America. First reported in Glades Co., Florida in 1988, it later spread to Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina. It is a major problem in pastures and conservation areas. Negative impacts of tropical soda apple include reduction of cattle stocking rates, competition with native plants, and the costs associated with its control. Dense thickets of the weed also can disrupt the movement of wildlife. This 4-page fact sheet provides a summary of the major steps of the successful biological control program against tropical soda apple in Florida. The article covers the importance of the weed, identification and biology of the biological control agent, rearing and release efforts, establishment and impact, and efforts to communicate the outcomes of the program to stakeholders. Written by R. Diaz, J. Medal, K. Hibbard, A. Roda, A. Fox, S. Hight, P. Stansly, B. Sellers, J. Cuda and W. A. Overholt, and published by the UF Department of Entomology and Nematology, November 2012. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in971

scholarly journals Dispersal of Oxyops vitiosa: A Biological Control Agent of Melaleuca in Florida

EDIS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 2004 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Overholt ◽  
Paul D. Pratt
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
University Of Florida ◽  
Fort Lauderdale ◽  
Oxyops Vitiosa

In 1986, USDA/ARS scientists at the Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Fort Lauderdale started a classical biological control program against melaleuca. The scientists recently released two insects as part of that program; the melaleuca weevil (Oxyops vitiosa (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)) and the melaleuca psyllid (Boreioglycapsis melaleucae (Hemiptera: Psyllidae)). This publication discusses the current distribution and dispersal rate of the weevil since in its introduction. This document is ENY-701, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: March 2004. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in497

Host Specificity and Environmental Impact of the WeevilHylobius transversovittatus, a Biological Control Agent of Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Weed Science ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernd Blossey ◽  
Dieter Schroeder ◽  
Stephen D. Hight ◽  
Richard A. Malecki
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
North America ◽  
Invasive Plant ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Lythrum Salicaria ◽  
Purple Loosestrife ◽  
Test Plant

Introduction of purple loosestrife into North America and its spread into wetlands has led to the degradation of these important habitats for wildlife. Conventional control efforts are unsuccessful in providing long-term control. A classical biological control program offers the best chance for reducing the numbers of this invasive plant and improving regeneration of the native flora and fauna. European studies demonstrated that the root boring weevil Hylobius transversovittatus is highly host specific to the target weed. Attack of two test plant species (winged lythrum and swamp loosestrife) during host range screening was most likely due to artificial test conditions. An environmental assessment of the potential effects of the release of the purple loosestrife borer in North America indicated that benefits outweigh any potential negative impact Therefore its field release was approved in 1992.

scholarly journals Limited host range in the idiobiont parasitoid Phymasticus coffea, a prospective biological control agent of the coffee pest Hypothenemus hampei in Hawaii

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazila Yousuf ◽  
Peter A. Follett ◽  
Conrad P. D. T. Gillett ◽  
David Honsberger ◽  
Lourdes Chamorro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Biological Control Agent ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
Environmental Safety ◽  
Control Agent ◽  
Hypothenemus Hampei ◽  
Parasitism Rate ◽  
Limited Host Range ◽  
Parasitoid Development

AbstractPhymastichus coffea LaSalle (Hymenoptera:Eulophidae) is an adult endoparasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae:Scolytinae), which has been introduced in many coffee producing countries as a biological control agent. To determine the effectiveness of P. coffea against H. hampei and environmental safety for release in Hawaii, we investigated the host selection and parasitism response of adult females to 43 different species of Coleoptera, including 23 Scolytinae (six Hypothenemus species and 17 others), and four additional Curculionidae. Non-target testing included Hawaiian endemic, exotic and beneficial coleopteran species. Using a no-choice laboratory bioassay, we demonstrated that P. coffea was only able to parasitize the target host H. hampei and four other adventive species of Hypothenemus: H. obscurus, H. seriatus, H. birmanus and H. crudiae. Hypothenemus hampei had the highest parasitism rate and shortest parasitoid development time of the five parasitized Hypothenemus spp. Parasitism and parasitoid emergence decreased with decreasing phylogenetic relatedness of the Hypothenemus spp. to H. hampei, and the most distantly related species, H. eruditus, was not parasitized. These results suggest that the risk of harmful non-target impacts is low because there are no native species of Hypothenemus in Hawaii, and P. coffea could be safely introduced for classical biological control of H. hampei in Hawaii.

A new species of Aculops (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) from Serbia on Dipsacus laciniatus L. (Dipsacaceae), a weed target of classical biological control in the United States of America

Zootaxa ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3192 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRIAN RECTOR ◽  
RADMILA U. PETANOVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Biological Control ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
Control Program ◽  
Classical Biological Control ◽  
The United States ◽  
Morphological Characters ◽  
Mite Species ◽  
The Family ◽  
Eriophyoid Mite ◽  
A New Species

A new eriophyoid mite species, Aculops orlovacae n. sp. (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) collected from Dipsacus laciniatus L. (Dipsacaceae) in northern Serbia, is described and illustrated, including digital micrographs depicting key morphological characters. Differential diagnosis is provided in comparison with Aculops salixis Xue, Song et Hong, Aculops rhodensis (Keifer), Aculops hussongi Keifer and Aculops oblongus (Nalepa). This is the first eriophyoid mite species in the genus Aculops described from a host plant in the family Dipsacaceae and it is only the second eriophyoid known from a host species in the genus Dipsacus L. This mite was found during surveys for natural enemies of Dipsacus spp., as part of a classical biological control program.

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