Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2plfb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T23:42:14.394Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Establishment of Rhinocyllus conicus on Milk Thistle in Southern California

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

R.D. Goeden  and
D.W. Ricker
R.D. Goeden
Affiliation:
Div. of Biol. Control, Univ. California, Riverside, CA 92502
D.W. Ricker
Affiliation:
Div. of Biol. Control, Univ. California, Riverside, CA 92502
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

During 1971 and 1972, 4,400 adults of Rhinocyllus conicus Froelich were introduced into southern California from Italy for the biological control of milk thistle [Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertner]. These flowerhead-infesting weevils were colonized at nine, and successfully established at five, widely separated locations. Field data on the incidence and increase of R. conicus at colonization sites are presented. Biotic mortality factors reported for R. conicus in southern California include predation of eggs by ladybird beetles (Hippodamia sp.) and of adults by snakeflies [Raphidia (Agulla) adnixa Hagen] and spiders, destruction of weevils in flower-heads consumed by cattle and rodents, and larval and pupal parasitism by pyomotid mites.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , May 1977 , pp. 288 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © 1977 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Goeden, R.D. 1976. The Palearctic insect fauna of milk thistle, Silybum marianum, as a source of biological control agents for California. Environ. Entomol. 76:345–353.Google Scholar
2. Goeden, R.D. and Ricker, D.W. 1974. Imported seed weevils attack Italian and milk thistles in southern California. Calif. Agric. 28(1): 8–9.Google Scholar
3. Harris, P. and Zwölfer, H. 1971. Carduus acanthoides L., welted thistle, and C. nutans L., nodding thistle (Compositae) in Biological control programes against insects and weeds in Canada 1959–1968. Commonw. Inst. Biol. Control Tech. Commun. No. 4:76–79.Google Scholar
4. Hawkes, R.B., Andres, L.A., and Dunn, P.H. 1972. Seed weevil released to control milk thistle. Calif. Agric. 26(12): 14.Google Scholar
5. Hodson, J.M. and Rees, N.E. 1976. Dispersal of Rhinocyllus conicus for biocontrol of musk thistle. Weed Sci. 24:59–62.Google Scholar
6. Kok, L.T. 1974. Efficacy of spring releases in colonizations of Rhinocyllus conicus for the biocontrol of thistles. Environ. Entomol. 3: 429–430.Google Scholar
7. Surles, W.W. 1974. Native hymenopteran parasitoids attacking an introduced weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus, in Virginia. Environ. Entomol. 3: 1027–1028.Google Scholar
8. Surles, W.W., Kok, L.T., and Pienkowski, R.L. 1974. Rhinocyllus conicus establishment for biocontrol of thistles in Virginia. Weed Sci. 24: 59–62.Google Scholar
9. Zwölfer, H. 1967. The host-range, distribution and life-history of Rhinocyllus conicus Froel. Prog. Rep. Commonw. Inst. Biol. Control No. 18.21 pp.Google Scholar