Classical biological control agents introduced into the Pacific Northwest for the management of weeds
and the general role of each biocontrol species.
HIGHLIGHTED SPECIES (GREY) ARE NO LONGER APPROVED BY USDA-APHIS FOR INTER-STATE COLLECTION AND RE-DISTRIBUTION.
|
Biocontrol Agent |
Role |
Weed Species |
|
Aceria chondrillae (formerly Eriophyes chondrillae) |
bud gall mite |
Skeletonweed, rush (Chondrilla juncea) |
|
Aceria drabae F |
gall mite |
Whitetop or hoary cress (Lepidium draba) |
|
Aceria malherbae |
bud/leaf gall mite |
Bindweed, field (Convolvulus arvensis) |
|
Agonopterix alstroemeriana |
defoliating moth |
Hemlock, poison (Conium maculatum) |
|
Agapeta zoegana |
root-boring moth |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos) |
|
Agrilus hyperici |
root-boring beetle |
St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) |
|
Aplocera plagiata |
defoliating moth |
St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) |
|
Aphthona cyparissiae |
root/defoliating flea beetle |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia esula, = E. virgata) |
|
Aphthona czwalinai |
root/defoliating flea beetle |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia esula, = E. virgata) |
|
Aphthona flava |
root/defoliating flea beetle |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia esula, = E. virgata) |
|
Aphthona lacertosa |
root/defoliating flea beetle |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia esula, = E. virgata) |
|
Aphthona nigriscutis |
root/defoliating flea beetle |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia esula, = E. virgata) |
|
Aulacidea acroptilonica |
gall wasp |
Knapweed, Russian (Rhaponticum repens; = Acroptilon repens) |
|
Aulacidea subterminalis F |
gall wasp |
Hawkweeds [mouse-ear (Pilosella officinarum); orange (P. aurantiaca); whiplash (P. flagellaris)] |
|
Bangasternus fausti |
seedhead weevil |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, diffuse (C. diffusa) |
|
Bangasternus orientalis |
seedhead weevil |
Starthistle, yellow (Centaurea solstitialis) |
|
Botanophila seneciella |
seedhead fly |
Ragwort, tansy (Jacobaea vulgaris; = Senecio jacobaea) |
|
Brachypterolus pulicarius |
flower beetle |
Toadflax, yellow (Linaria vulgaris); toadflax, Dalmatian (L. dalmatica) |
|
Bradyrrhoa gilveolella |
root-boring moth |
Skeletonweed, rush (Chondrilla juncea) |
|
Bruchidius villosus |
seed beetle |
Broom, Scotch (Cytisus scoparius); broom, French (Genista monspessulana) |
|
Calophasia lunula |
defoliating moth |
Toadflax, yellow (Linaria vulgaris); toadflax, Dalmatian (L. dalmatica) |
|
Chaetorellia acrolophi |
seedhead fly |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos) |
|
Chaetorellia australis |
seedhead fly |
Starthistle, yellow (Centaurea solstitialis) |
|
Cheilosia grossa (formerly C. corydon) |
stem fly |
Thistle, slenderflower (Carduus tenuiflorus); thistle, Italian (C. pycnocephalus) |
|
Chrysolina hyperici |
defoliating beetle |
St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) |
|
Chrysolina quadrigemina |
defoliating beetle |
St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum) |
|
Cyphocleonus achates |
root-boring/gall weevil |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, diffuse (C. diffusa) |
|
Cystiphora schmidti |
stem/leaf gall midge |
Skeletonweed, rush (Chondrilla juncea) |
|
Diorhabda carinulata C (formerly D. elongata) |
leaf beetle |
Saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) |
|
Euhrychiopsis lecontei E |
stem weevil |
Watermilfoil, Eurasian (Myriophyllum spicatum) |
|
Eustenopus villosus |
seedhead weevil |
Starthistle, yellow (Centaurea solstitialis) |
|
Exapion fuscirostre |
seed weevil |
Broom, Scotch (Cytisus scoparius) |
|
Exapion ulicis |
seed weevil |
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) |
|
Galerucella calmariensis |
leaf beetle |
Loosestrife, purple (Lythrum salicaria) |
|
Galerucella pusilla |
leaf beetle |
Loosestrife, purple (Lythrum salicaria) |
|
Hadroplontus litura (formerly Ceutorhynchus litura) |
crown/stem-mining weevil |
Thistle, Canada (Cirsium arvense) |
|
Hyles euphorbiae |
defoliating moth |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia virgata; = E. esula) |
|
Hylobius transversovittatus |
root-boring weevil |
Loosestrife, purple (Lythrum salicaria) |
|
Jaapiella ivannikovi |
shoot tip gall midge |
Knapweed, Russian (Rhaponticum repens; = Acroptilon repens) |
|
Larinus curtus D |
seedhead weevil |
Starthistle, yellow (Centaurea solstitialis) |
|
Larinus minutus |
seedhead weevil |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, meadow (C. x moncktonii; = C. jacea x nigra; = C. debeauxii; = C. pratensis); knapweed, diffuse (C. diffusa) |
|
Larinus obtusus |
seedhead weevil |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, meadow (C. x moncktonii; = C. jacea x nigra; = C. debeauxii; = C. pratensis) |
|
Leucoptera spartifoliella |
twig mining moth |
Broom, Scotch (Cytisus scoparius) |
|
Longitarsus jacobaeae |
root/defoliating flea beetle |
Ragwort, tansy (Jacobaea vulgaris; = Senecio jacobaea) |
|
Mecinus janthiniformis (formerly M. janthinus) |
stem-boring weevil |
Toadflax, Dalmatian (Linaria dalmatica) |
|
Mecinus janthinus |
stem-boring weevil |
Toadflax, yellow (Linaria vulgaris) |
|
Metzneria paucipunctella |
seedhead moth |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos) |
|
Microlarinus lareynii |
seed weevil |
Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) |
|
Microlarinus lypriformis |
stem weevil |
Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) |
|
Nanophyes marmoratus |
flower bud weevil |
Loosestrife, purple (Lythrum salicaria) |
|
Oberea erythrocephala |
stem-boring beetle |
Spurge, leafy (Euphorbia virgata; = E. esula) |
|
Phrydiuchus tau |
crown/root weevil |
Sage, Mediterranean (Salvia aethiopis) |
|
Pterolonche inspersa |
root-boring moth |
Knapweed, diffuse (Centaurea diffusa) |
|
Puccinia chondrillina |
rust fungus |
Skeletonweed, rush (Chondrilla juncea) |
|
Puccinia jacea var. solstitialis |
rust fungus |
Starthistle, yellow (Centaurea solstitialis) |
|
Puccinia punctiformis |
rust fungus |
Thistle, Canada (Cirsium arvense) |
|
Rhinocyllus conicus A |
seedhead weevil |
Thistle, slenderflower (Carduus tenuiflorus); thistle, plumeless (C. acanthoides); thistle, musk (C. nutans); thistle, milk (Silybum marianum); thistle, Italian (C. pycnocephalus); thistle, Canada (Cirsium arvense) |
|
Rhinusa antirrhini (formerly Gymnetron antirrhini) |
seedhead weevil |
Toadflax, yellow (Linaria vulgaris) |
|
Rhinusa pilosa F |
shoot-galling weevil |
Toadflax, yellow (Linaria vulgaris) |
|
Sphenoptera jugoslavica |
root-boring/gall beetle |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, diffuse (C. diffusa) |
|
Subanguina picridis |
stem/leaf gall nematode |
Knapweed, Russian (Rhaponticum repens; = Acroptilon repens) |
|
Terellia virens |
seedhead fly |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos) |
|
Tetranychus lintearius |
spider mite |
Gorse (Ulex europaeus) |
|
Trichosirocalus horridus A |
root/crown weevil |
Thistle, slenderflower (Carduus tenuiflorus); thistle, plumeless (C. acanthoides); thistle, musk (C. nutans); thistle, Italian (C. pycnocephalus) |
|
Tyria jacobaeae B |
defoliating moth |
Ragwort, tansy (Jacobaea vulgaris; = Senecio jacobaea) |
|
Tyta luctuosa |
defoliating moth |
Bindweed, field (Convolvulus arvensis) |
|
Urophora affinis |
seedhead gall fly |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, diffuse (C. diffusa) |
|
Urophora cardui |
stem gall fly |
Thistle, Canada (Cirsium arvense) |
|
Urophora quadrifasciata |
seedhead gall fly |
Knapweed, spotted (Centaurea stoebe; = C. stoebe ssp. micranthos); knapweed, meadow (C. x moncktonii; = C. jacea x nigra; = C. debeauxii; = C. pratensis); knapweed, diffuse (C. diffusa) |
|
Urophora sirunaseva |
seedhead gall fly |
Starthistle, yellow (Centaurea solstitialis) |
|
Urophora stylata |
seedhead gall fly |
Thistle, bull (Cirsium vulgare) |
|
A Rhinocyllus conicus and Trichosirocalus horridus are not recommended. They attack native thistles and interstate permits are suspended. B Tyria jacobaeae is not recommended east of the Cascades, particularly in Idaho. It attacks several native plant species. C Diorhabda carinulata (formerly D. elongata) interstate shipment permits have been suspended. D Larinus curtus may be infected with a disease that can reduce insect populations. It should not be redistributed to avoid spreading the disease to healthy L. curtus populations. E Euhrychiopsis lecontei is a native insect, and thus, not a classical biological control agent. The weevil is co-evolved with native milfoil, Myriophyllum sibiricum, but also attacks Eurasian watermilfoil, M. spicatum. It is naturally-occurring at many lakes in the Pacific Northwest but is not currently available for redistribution. F Aceria drabae, Aulacidea subterminalis, and Rhinusa pilosa are new biocontrol agents that are still undergoing testing and establishment. It is unclear when they will be available for widespread distribution or how effective they will be on their host plant. |
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