Environmental Entomology (1997) 26, 343-348
Guillermo A. Logarzo and Miguel A. Casalinuovo (1997)
Suitability of the North American weeds Sesbania exaltata and S. drummondii (Leguminosae) as hosts for Neodiplogrammus quadrivittatus and Trichapion lativentre (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Argentina
Environmental Entomology 26 (2), 343-348
Abstract: Neodiplogrammus quadrivittatus (Oliver) and Trichapion lativentre (Beguin-Billecocq) are 2 South Amercan weevils successfully used for the biological control of Sesbania punicea (Cavanille) Benth. in South Africa. The potential of these insects as control agents for the weeds Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rydb. and S. drummondii (Rydb.) Cory in the United States was studied in Argentina. Estimation of adult consumption, the food preference of adult insects on 5 species of Sesbania (3 native hosts and the 2 weeds mentioned above), the capacity of the insects to complete their life cycle on the weeds, and the weed infestation by wild populations in the laboratory garden were studied. The consumption of N. quadrivitattus on both north American weeds did not differ from that on native hosts. Similar consumption was observed for T. lativentre feeding on S. drummondii. S. exaltata showed the lowest consumption. The feeding preference of N. quadrivitattus was similar to that of its natural host plants. In the case of T. lativentre, results on only S. drummondii were comparable to that of its natural hosts. Both insects were able to complete their life cycles on the weeds. In the garden, there was a marked preference by the weevils for S. drummondii. S. exaltata was not attacked by T. lativentre and no test was carried out with N. quadrivittatus. We concluded that both insects are good biocontrol candidates for S. drummondii, whereas only N. quadrivitattus is a promising control agent for S. exaltata.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Guillermo A. Logarzo
Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
