Mecinus janthinus is a stem-boring weevil introduced into the US and Canada as a biocontrol agent of Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) and, to a lesser extent, yellow toadflax (L. vulgaris). Host specificity tests conducted prior to introduction did not include several genera of native North American Scrophulariaceae that are fairly closely related to Linaria. We examined utilization of native Antirrhinum spp., Maurandya spp., and Penstemon spp. by M. janthinus. No-choice tests suggest that several Antirrhinum spp. and M. antirrhiniflora may be potential hosts, though less preferred than Linaria spp. However, Antirrhinum spp. were rarely or never attacked in field cage host-choice tests.
Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Mecinus janthinus
Species 2: Scrophulariaceae Linaria dalmatica (Dalmatian toadflax)
Keywords: biological control, weeds
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