Eustenopus villosus (weed bioagent)
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Author(s): Eric Coombs, Oregon Department of Agriculture
Source: IPM Images
Eustenopus villosus (weed bioagent) (Boheman, 1843) - (yellow starthistle hairy weevil, capitulum weevil)
This weevil is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region. The adults feed on the early flower buds of the yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis), which results in many flower buds failing to develop. This early bud feeding can be severe and many plants can lose all initial flower buds. Later, the plant produces new buds which develop into mature capitula on which the adult females also feed and deposit their eggs. The developing larvae destroy the developing seeds of the thistle.
Starting in 1990, the weevil was released in western North America against the invasive yellow starthistle and it now widely distributed there. E. villosus is one of several biological control agents released in North America against the weed, but the weevil is regarded as the most important one, together with the accidentally introduced fruit fly Chaetorellia succinea.
Synonyms:
Larinus villosus
- Other images of Eustenopus villosus (weed bioagent) (IPM Images - click to enlarge)
pupa
