Environmental Entomology (2007) 36, 1421-1429

Joe K. Balciunas and Boris A. Korotyaev (2007)
Larval densities and field hosts of Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae) and an illustrated key to the adults of Ceratapion spp. that feed on thistles in the eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions
Environmental Entomology 36 (6), 1421-1429
Abstract: Many members of the tribe Cardueae are invasive weeds, including yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.), one of the most important weeds in the Western United States. We examined the root crowns and stems of yellow starthistle and related plants growing in five countries (Armenia, Republic of Georgia, Greece, Russia, and Turkey) where yellow starthistle is native. In its native range, the root crowns and lower stems of yellow starthistle are frequently attacked by the internal feeding larvae of apionid weevils. We present illustrations and a key to the adults of the six apionid species that we reared from yellow starthistle and its relatives: Ceratapion basicorne (Illiger), C. carduorum (Kirby), C. gibbirostre (Gyllenhal), C. onopodri (Kirby), C. orientale (Gerstaecker), and C. penetrans (Germar). The only apionid we reared from yellow starthistle was C. basicorne. In Turkey, where we collected most intensively, 58% of the yellow starthistle at 20 sites had larvae of this weevil, and at sites where C. basicorne was present, there were an average of 1.8 immatures per yellow starthistle plant. This apionid is currently being further researched for its potential as a biological control agent for yellow starthistle.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution
identification/taxonomy

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Centaurea solstitialis (weed)		Armenia
	Centaurea solstitialis (weed)		Georgia
	Centaurea solstitialis (weed)		Greece
	Centaurea solstitialis (weed)		Russia (Eur.)
	Centaurea solstitialis (weed)		Turkey
Ceratapion basicorne (weed bioagent)	Centaurea solstitialis (weed)		Turkey