Current Status of Biological Weed Control Agents in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho

Revised March 2013

Oregon

Washington

Idaho

Weed

Agent

Distribution1

Attack Rate2

Control3

Availability4

Distribution1

Attack Rate2

Control3

Availability4

Distribution1

Attack Rate2

Control3

Availability4

1 Distribution within host range: W = widespread; L = limited sites; F = failed to establish; U = unknown status; — = not released

2 Attack rate host: H = heavy (> 70%); M = medium (> 30%); L = light (> 10%); S = slight (< 1%); U = unknown status

3 Control ability on seeds and/or plant density: E = excellent; G = good; F = fair; P = poor; U = undetermined

4 Availability for redistribution: M = mass collections; L = limited (Limited availability indicates agent populations are slow in building or are recently introduced. Work on these species should be coordinated through biological control specialists at the state department of agriculture or state university); U = unavailable; N = not recommended. (These agents may attack native species and interstate shipments are no longer permitted. Contact your local biocontrol specialist to determine if releases are appropriate in your area).

Bindweed, field

(Convolvulus arvensis)

Aceria malherbae

L

H

G

M

L

M

F

M

L

L

F

L

Tyta luctuosa

L

L

P

L

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

Broom, Scotch

(Cytisus scoparius)

Bruchidius villosus

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

U

U

U

U

Exapion fuscirostre

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

L

L

M

U

U

Leucoptera spartifoliella

W

M

F

M

L

M

P

L

—

—

—

—

Cordgrass, smooth

(Spartina alterniflora)

Prokelisia marginata

—

—

—

—

U

U

U

U

—

—

—

—

Gorse (Ulex europaeus)

Exapion ulicis

W

H

G

M

M

H

G

M

—

—

—

—

Tetranychus lintearius

W

L

P

L

W

L

P

L

—

—

—

—

Knapweed, diffuse

(Centaurea diffusa)

Bangasternus fausti

W

H

G

M

L

M

G

L

L

L

F

L

Cyphocleonus achates

L

L

F

L

L

M

E

L

L

L

F

L

Larinus minutus

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Pterolonche inspersa

L

L

L

L

F

—

—

—

F

—

—

—

Sphenoptera jugoslavica

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

Urophora affinis

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

Urophora quadrifasciata

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

Knapweed, meadow

Larinus minutus

L

M

F

L

L

M

F

L

—

—

—

—

(Centaurea debeauxii; = C. jacea x nigra; = C.

moncktonii; = C. pratensis)

Larinus obtusus

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

L

—

—

—

—

Urophora quadrifasciata

L

L

F

L

L

M

F

M

—

—

—

—

Knapweed, Russian

(Rhaponticum repens; = Acroptilon repens)

Jaapiella ivannikovi

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

Subanguina picridis

L

S

F

L

F

—

—

—

U

U

U

U

Knapweed, spotted

(Centaurea stoebe; = C.

stoebe ssp. micranthos)

Agapeta zoegana

L

H

G

M

L

M

U

L

W

L

U

L

Bangasternus fausti

W

L

G

M

L

L

U

L

L

U

U

L

Chaetorellia acrolophi

L

L

F

L

L

L

U

L

L

L

U

L

Cyphocleonus achates

L

H

F

M

L

M

F

L

L

M

G

M

Larinus minutus

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Larinus obtusus

W

H

E

M

L

M

G

M

L

M

F

L

Metzneria paucipunctella

W

L

F

L

W

L

G

L

W

H

G

M

Sphenoptera jugoslavica

W

H

G

M

L

H

G

M

L

L

P

L

Terellia virens

L

M

G

L

L

U

U

U

L

U

U

U

Urophora affinis

W

M

G

M

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

Urophora quadrifasciata

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

W

H

G

M

Loosestrife, purple

(Lythrum salicaria)

Galerucella calmariensis

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Galerucella pusilla

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Hylobius transversovittatus

W

H

G

M

L

M

F

L

L

L

F

L

Nanophyes marmoratus

W

M

F

M

L

M

F

M

W

L

F

M

Puncturevine

(Tribulus terrestris)

Microlarinus lareynii

L

L

P

L

L

L

U

U

U

U

U

U

Ragwort, tansy

(Senecio jacobaea; =

Jacobaea vulgaris)

Botanophila seneciella

W

H

F

M

W

H

G

M

L

L

F

U

Longitarsus jacobaeae

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

G

L

Tyria jacobaeae

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

—

—

—

N

Sage, Mediterranean

(Salvia aethiopis)

Phrydiuchus tau

W

H

G

M

L

L

F

L

W

H

G

M

St. Johnswort

(Hypericum perforatum)

Agrilus hyperici

L

H

E

M

L

H

E

L

W

H

E

M

Aplocera plagiata

W

M

F

M

W

M

F

M

W

M

F

M

Chrysolina hyperici

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Chrysolina quadrigemina

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Saltcedar

(Tamarix ramosissima)

Diorhabda carinulata

(formerly D. elongata)

L

H

F

M

U

U

U

U

F

U

U

U

Skeletonweed, rush

(Chondrilla juncea)

Bradyrrhoa gilveolella

L

S

U

L

U

U

U

U

L

M

U

L

Cystiphora schmidti

W

H

G

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Eriophyes chondrillae

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Puccinia chondrillina

W

H

G

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

G

M

Spurge, leafy

(Euphorbia esula)

Aphthona cyparissiae

L

H

E

M

L

M

F

L

L

L

G

M

Aphthona czwalinae

L

H

E

M

L

L

U

U

L

L

G

M

Aphthona flava

L

H

F

L

L

M

F

L

L

L

G

M

Aphthona lacertosa

W

H

E

M

L

M

U

L

W

H

E

M

Aphthona nigriscutis

W

H

E

M

L

M

F

U

W

H

E

M

Hyles euphorbiae

F

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

W

M

G

M

Oberea erythrocephala

W

H

G

M

U

U

U

U

W

M

G

M

Starthistle, yellow

(Centaurea solstitialis)

Bangasternus orientalis

W

L

P

L

W

L

P

L

W

L

P

M

Chaetorellia australis

W

H

E

M

W

M

G

M

W

H

E

M

Eustenopus villosus

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Larinus curtus

W

H

E

M

W

M

F

L

W

M

E

M

Puccinia jacea var. solstitialis

F

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Thistle, bull

(Cirsium vulgare)

Urophora stylata

W

H

G

M

L

M

F

L

L

L

U

L

Thistle, Canada

(Cirsium arvense)

Hadroplontus litura

(formerly Ceutorhynchus litura)

L

H

G

M

L

M

F

L

L

L

U

L

Rhinocyllus conicus

W

H

F

N

W

H

H

N

W

F

F

N

Urophora cardui

W

H

F

M

W

H

F

M

L

M

F

M

Thistle, Italian

(Carduus pycnocephalus)

Rhinocyllus conicus

W

H

G

N

—

—

—

—

L

H

G

N

Trichosirocalus horridus

W

H

U

N

—

—

—

N

L

L

U

N

Thistle, milk

(Silybum marianum)

Rhinocyllus conicus

W

H

G

N

—

—

—

N

—

—

—

—

Thistle, musk

(Carduus nutans)

Rhinocyllus conicus

W

H

G

N

W

H

E

N

W

H

G

N

Trichosirocalus horridus

L

M

G

N

—

—

—

N

L

M

G

N

Thistle, plumeless

(Carduus acanthoides)

Rhinocyllus conicus

L

H

G

N

W

H

E

N

W

H

G

N

Trichosirocalus horridus

—

—

—

—

L

L

U

N

L

L

U

N

Thistle, slenderflower

(Carduus tenuiflorus)

Cheilosia corydon

W

M

F

M

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

Rhinocyllus conicus

W

H

G

N

—

—

—

N

—

—

—

—

Trichosirocalus horridus

W

H

U

N

—

—

—

N

—

—

—

—

Toadflax, Dalmatian

(Linaria dalmatica) (formerly M. janthinus)

Brachypterolus pulicarius

W

M

P

M

W

M

P

M

W

H

E

M

Calophasia lunula

L

L

F

L

W

H

F

M

W

L

U

L

Mecinus janthinus

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

W

H

E

M

Toadflax, yellow

(Linaria vulgaris)

Brachypterolus pulicarius

L

M

F

L

L

M

F

L

L

M

P

L

Calophasia lunula

—

—

—

—

L

M

F

L

L

M

F

L

Gymnetron antirrhini

W

M

U

L

L

H

G

L

L

M

U

L

Mecinus janthinus

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

U

L

M

G

L

Watermilfoil, Eurasian

(Myriophyllum spicatum)

Euhrychiopsis lecontei

L

U

U

U

W

M

F

L

W

L

F

L