Inundative Release of Aphthona spp. Flea Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) as a Biological “Herbicide” on Leafy Spurge in Riparian Areas

Inundative Release of Aphthona spp. Flea Beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) as a Biological “Herbicide” on Leafy Spurge in Riparian Areas

Inundative releases of beneficial insects are frequently used to suppress pest insects but not commonly attempted as a method of weed biological control because of the difficulty in obtaining the required large numbers of insects. The successful establishment of a flea beetle complex, mixed Aphthona...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of economic entomology Vol. 103; no. 2; pp. 242 - 248
Main Authors: Progar, R. A., Markin, G., Milan, J., Barbouletos, T., Rinella, M. J.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Lanham, MD Entomological Society of America 01-04-2010
Subjects:
Animals
Aphthona
Aphthona lacertosa
Aphthona nigriscutis
Beneficial arthropods
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL AND MICROBIAL CONTROL
Biological control
biological control agents
Biomass
botanical composition
broadleaf weeds
Chemical control
Chrysomelidae
Coleoptera
Coleoptera - physiology
Competition
Control
dry matter accumulation
Ecosystem
Euphorbia - parasitology
Euphorbia esula
Flowering
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Generalities
Herbicides
Idaho
Insecta
inundative release
inundative releases
Invertebrates
leafy spurge
mass rearing
Natural enemies
noxious weeds
Pest Control, Biological
Pests
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
plant competition
Protozoa. Invertebrates
riparian area
riparian areas
Rivers
root crown
Seedlings
stems
Streams
Time Factors
Vegetation
weed control
Weeds
Idaho
Chrysomelidae
Aphthona
Coleoptera
leafy spurge
Insecta
Biological control
Pesticides
Herbicide
riparian area
Riparian
Arthropoda
Invertebrata
inundative release
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Description
Summary:Inundative releases of beneficial insects are frequently used to suppress pest insects but not commonly attempted as a method of weed biological control because of the difficulty in obtaining the required large numbers of insects. The successful establishment of a flea beetle complex, mixed Aphthona lacertosa (Rosenhauer) and Aphthona nigriscutus Foundras (87 and 13%, respectively), for the control of leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L., provided an easily collectable source of these natural enemies that enabled us to attempt inundative release as a possible leafy spurge control method in a sensitive riparian ecological zone where chemical control is restricted. Our target weed populations were small isolated patches of leafy spurge along three streams in southwestern, central, and northeastern Idaho. This study assessed leafy spurge and associated vegetation responses to inundative releases of 10 and 50 beetles per spurge flowering stem over two consecutive years. Releasing 10 beetles per flowering stem had inconclusive effects on spurge biomass, crown, stem, and seedling density. Alternatively, releasing 50 beetles per flowering stem resulted in a reduction of biomass, crown and stem density in the range of 60–80% at all three study sites, and about an ≈60% reduction of seedling density at one site, compared with untreated plots, In contrast to leafy spurge, associated vegetation did not conclusively respond to beetle release, indicating that it may take more than two years for desired riparian vegetation to respond to reductions in leafy spurge competition.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC09294
http://hdl.handle.net/10113/42872
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ISSN:0022-0493
1938-291X
0022-0493
DOI:10.1603/EC09294