Utilization of native and exotic thistles by the native lace bug Corythucha distincta (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

The distinct lace bug (Corythucha distincta) is occasionally found on the exotic weed Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) in the central US. When populations are high, significant leaf damage may occur, resulting in shoot mortality. This has lead to suggestions for using this native insect as a Canada thistle biocontrol agent. I attempted to define C. distincta’s host range by assessing feeding on Canada thistle, other exotic thistles, and eight native Cirsium thistles in laboratory and field cage experiments. As expected, C. distincta readily fed on Canada thistle, but not on the exotic bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare). Survival, utilization, and feeding damage on native Cirsium thistles was similar to, or significantly greater than, that on Canada thistle. No lace bug feeding was observed on economic plants tested: sunflower, safflower, and cardoon.