Host specificity of Coniatus tamarisci (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from France: potential biological control agent of Tamarix spp. in the United States

The feeding behavior and host specificity of Coniatus tamarisci F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Hyperini) were studied in southern France. The results of the experiments and observations supported the potential of this species and its safe use as a biological control agent for saltcedar, Tamarix ramo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental entomology 1997-04, Vol.26 (2), p.349-356
Main Author: Fornasari, L. (European Biological Control Laboratory, USDA, ARS, Montpellier, France.)
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
AUXILIAIRE DE LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE
Biological and medical sciences
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
Biological control and other methods
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT
CONTROL BIOLOGICO
CURCULIONIDAE
DESARROLLO BIOLOGICO
DESHERBAGE
DEVELOPPEMENT BIOLOGIQUE
ESCARDA
ETATS UNIS
EUA
FEEDING PREFERENCES
FRANCE
FRANCIA
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
HOST PLANTS
HOSTS
HOTE
HUESPEDES
LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE
MALEZAS
MAUVAISE HERBE
ORGANISMOS PARA CONTROL BIOLOGICO
Parasitic plants. Weeds
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
PREFERENCE ALIMENTAIRE
PREFERENCIAS ALIMENTARIAS
SUPERVIVENCIA
SURVIE
SURVIVAL
TAMARIX
TAMARIX RAMOSISSIMA
USA
WEED CONTROL
WEEDS
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Description
Summary:The feeding behavior and host specificity of Coniatus tamarisci F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Hyperini) were studied in southern France. The results of the experiments and observations supported the potential of this species and its safe use as a biological control agent for saltcedar, Tamarix ramosissima Ledebourg, in North America. Adults and larvae fed on saltcedar buds leaves, and stems during the entire vegetative phase of the host plant, limiting its growth. Under no-choice, starvation conditions on caged plants, adult feeding and oviposition were restricted to species in the genus Tamarix and to the closely related Myricaria germanica (L.) Desvaux, also belonging to the family Tamaricaceae. The heaviest damage and oviposition were on saltcedar, and feeding was light on T. aphylla (L.) Karsten. Among the species tested, the weevil completed its development only on saltcedar and M. germanica and not on T. aphylla or T. parviflora DC
ISSN:0046-225X
1938-2936
DOI:10.1093/ee/26.2.349