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European ectoparasitoids of two classical weed biological control agents released in North America

Muller, Franck J. ; Mason, Peter G. ; Dosdall, Lloyd M. ; Kuhlmann, Ulrich

In: The Canadian Entomologist, 2011, vol. 143, no. 2, p. 197-210

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    Title
    • European ectoparasitoids of two classical weed biological control agents released in North America
    Author
    • Muller, Franck J.. CABI Europe—Switzerland, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland
    • Mason, Peter G.. Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Canada K1A 0C6
    • Dosdall, Lloyd M.. 4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2P5
    • Kuhlmann, Ulrich. CABI Europe—Switzerland, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    Language
    • English
    Published in
    • The Canadian Entomologist, 2011, vol. 143, no. 2, p. 197-210. Cambridge University Press
    Other Version
    Classification
    • Biology, Life sciences
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:303913
    Summary
    The ceutorhynchine weevils Hadroplontus litura (F.) and Microplontus edentulus (Schultze) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), are established in North America as biological control agents for Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., and scentless chamomile, Tripleurospermum perforatum (Mérat) M. Lainz (Asteraceae), respectively. In North America, both weeds occur sympatrically and in similar habitats as another ceutorhynchine, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham) (cabbage seedpod weevil), an important pest of canola, Brassica napus L., and Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae). Ceutorhynchinae weevils released to control weeds in cultivated crops may serve as alternate hosts if agents released for biological control of C. obstrictus are not specific to that species. Parasitoids associated with M. edentulus and H. litura inflict similar levels of mortality on their hosts, yet a single species was associated with the latter host, whereas 13 species attacked the former. The stem-mining M. edentulus appears to be at some risk but not the root-crown feeding H. litura, should the parasitoids Trichomalus perfectus (Walker) and Mesopolobus morys (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) be introduced as biological control agents of the silique-feeding C. obstrictus. These findings suggest that feeding niche may be an important criterion for developing a nontarget species test list for host-range testing of potential biological control agents