The biology and host specificity of Pareuchaetes aurata aurata (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), a ‘new association’ biological control agent for Chromolaena odorata (Compositae)

Pareuchaetes aurata aurata (Butler) from Chromolaena jujuensis in northern Argentina was tested as a biological control candidate for the composite weed C. odorata. The larvae feed voraciously and complete their development on C. odorata. The host-plant feeding range of P. a. aurata is limited to th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of entomological research 1993-03, Vol.83 (1), p.87-93
Main Authors: Kluge, R.L., Caldwell, P.M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions
Arctiidae
Biological and medical sciences
Biological control and other methods
Chromolaena odorata
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Invertebrates
Lepidoptera
Parasitic plants. Weeds
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Weeds
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Summary:Pareuchaetes aurata aurata (Butler) from Chromolaena jujuensis in northern Argentina was tested as a biological control candidate for the composite weed C. odorata. The larvae feed voraciously and complete their development on C. odorata. The host-plant feeding range of P. a. aurata is limited to the genus Chromolaena. It is suggested that the egg-laying behaviour of P. a. aurata, which scatters its eggs around the base of the host-plant, will help to overcome the problem of ant predation which prevented the establishment of Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros, which lays its eggs in batches, in South Africa. Any possible benefits of the new association between P. a. aurata and C. odorata may also contribute to the success of this biological control programme.
ISSN:0007-4853
1475-2670
DOI:10.1017/S000748530004181X