Distribution of Biological Control Agents of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esulaL.) in the United States: 1988–1996

Leafy spurge,Euphorbia esula(Euphorbiaceae), is a perennial plant native to Eurasia that has become a widespread weed in North America. Since 1988, the United States Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) has coordinate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Biological control 1997-10, Vol.10 (2), p.129-142
Main Authors: Hansen, Richard W., Richard, Robert D., Parker, Paul E., Wendel, Lloyd E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE
APHTHONA
AUXILIAIRE DE LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE
biological control
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ORGANISMS
CECIDOMYIIDAE
CERAMBYCIDAE
CHAMAESPHECIA HUNGARI CA
CONTROL PROGRAMS
DESHERBAGE
DISTRIBUCION GEOGRAFICA
DISTRIBUTION GEOGRAPHIQUE
ESCARDA
ETATS UNIS
EUA
EUPHORBIA ESULA
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
GOBIERNO
GOUVERNEMENT
GOVERNMENT
insects
Leafy spurge
OBEREA
OBEREA ERYTHROCEPHALA
ORGANISMOS PARA CONTROL BIOLOGICO
PLANT PROTECTION AND QUARANTINE
PUBLIC AGENCIES
SESIIDAE
SPURGIA ESULAE
USA
USDA
USDA-APHIS-PPQ
WEED CONTROL
weeds
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Summary:Leafy spurge,Euphorbia esula(Euphorbiaceae), is a perennial plant native to Eurasia that has become a widespread weed in North America. Since 1988, the United States Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS-PPQ) has coordinated a classical biological control implementation program against leafy spurge in the United States. Through this program, nine Eurasian insect species have been imported and released in the United States, including six species of flea beetles,Aphthonaspp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a root-boring moth,Chamaesphecia hungarica(Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), a root-boring beetle,Oberea erythrocephala(Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), and a gall midge,Spurgia esulae(Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). These species have been released in 188 counties in 19 states. Established populations of at least one agent are present in 148 counties in 18 states, while populations of at least one agent in 62 counties in 16 states are large enough to permit collection and distribution to other leafy spurge-infested areas. Biological control agents have been released throughout areas of the United States infested by leafy spurge, and the initial phase of the USDA-APHIS-PPQ implementation program is nearly complete.
ISSN:1049-9644
1090-2112
DOI:10.1006/bcon.1997.0561