Title: Host specificity of Euops chinesis, a potential biological control agent of Fallopia japonica, an invasive plant in Europe and North America

Abstract: Fallopia japonica (Houttuyn) Ronse Decraene (Polygonaceae) is a serious invasive weed in North American and Europe. In its native China, a leaf-rolling weevil, Euops chinesis (Coleoptera: Attelabidae) was found attacking F. japonica in the field. No-choice tests, multiple-choice tests, open field tests and field surveys were conducted as a measure of its host specificity. Forty-six plant species were selected from 17 families for host range testing, among which, six species, F. multiflora, F. japonica, Persicaria perfoliata, Rumex acetosa, R. japonicus and R. aquaticus, were exposed to adults in no-choice tests. However, larvae could only develop successfully on F. japonica, and this plant appeared to be the only host in the field, suggesting the weevil is host-specific. As larval development appears to depend on a fungus in the leaf rolls, the insect–fungus mutualism and risks including host specificity of the fungus should be evaluated before the insect’s introduction. [Biocontrol: Online First, 31 March, 2010]

Authors: Yangzhou Wang1, 2, 3 Contact Information, Kai Wu1, 3 and Jianqing Ding1 Contact Information

(1) Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden/Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China


(2) Institute of Plant Protection, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 130124, Jilin, China


(3) Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China


Keywords: Host-specificity - Leaf-rolling weevil - Japanese knotweed - Euops chinesis - Fallopia japonica - Mutualism

From http://www.springerlink.com, see original source.



Article: WeedsNews368 (permalink)
Categories: :WeedsNews:biological control, :WeedsNews:research alert, :WeedsNews:weed alert
Date: 7 April 2010; 12:34:45 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid