Yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis (YST), is an invasive noxious weed in USA, Chile, Australia, and South Africa. Several insect species have been introduced against this weed, but with limited success. Thus, other biological agents are being sought. Among them a flea beetle, Psylliodes chalcomerus Illiger, with stem-boring larvae and leaf-feeding adults seems one of the most promising. Several “biotypes” of this species have been collected on different host plants (YST, Onopordum acanthium, and Carduus nutans). Biological and morphological features of these biotypes were studied in the field and laboratory. The results suggested that each biotype is closely associated with its respective host plant. Field studies in natural conditions revealed negative correlation between plant biomass and insect infestation, suggesting high impact on the target plant, which is encouraging for biocontrol.
Species 1: Coleoptera Chrysomelidae Psylliodes (flea beetle)
Keywords: yellowstar thistle, biological control
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