A major aspect of successful biological control of weeds is host specificity of the biological control agents. Biological control agents that attack multiple species of invasive weeds may be more effective on the species that they prefer. Brachypterolus pulicarius is a flower-feeding beetle of both yellow and Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria vulgaris and Linaria genestifolia ssp. dalmatica) and is used in the control of these noxious weeds. We conducted a field experiment to test the preference of this beetle. Adult beetles were collected from both yellow and Dalmatian toadflax, individually marked, and released and recaptured within a field containing experimental patches of both yellow and Dalmatian toadflax. Adult occurrence and oviposition were recorded for each patch. Brachypterolus pulicarius appear to prefer yellow toadflax regardless of the original host plant. This research may aid in planning redistribution of this beetle to control new populations of toadflax, and will help determine if the importation of B. pulicarius that prefer Dalmatian toadflax should be explored.
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