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CASSIDA AZUREA FAB. (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE): HOST SPECIFICITY AND ESTABLISHMENT IN CANADA AS A BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AGAINST THE WEED SILENE VULGARIS (MOENCH) GARCKE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

D.P. Peschken ,
R. Declerck-Floate  and
A.S. McClay
D.P. Peschken
Affiliation:
Research Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 440, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada S4P 3A2
R. Declerck-Floate*
Affiliation:
Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada TIJ 4B1
A.S. McClay
Affiliation:
Alberta Research Council, Bag 4000, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T9C 1T4
*
2Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed.
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Abstract

Cassida azurea Fab. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) was studied as an agent to control the weed bladder campion, Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke (Caryophyllaceae). To supplement previously published data on the beetle’s host range, additional no-choice experiments were conducted. First-stage larvae were offered seven plant species related to bladder campion. Only one adult male developed on Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. China Doll and one female on Lychnis × haageana Lem. This female did not produce eggs when it continued to feed on L. × haageana. In tests with adults, oogenesis occurred only if fed with bladder campion, and one laid one egg while feeding on Gypsophila pacifica Kom. First-stage larvae did not develop to adults on three native North American Silene spp., but two adults developed on three other native species. Based on results from these experiments and reports in the literature, it was concluded that C. azurea has a very narrow host range and permission for field releases was granted in 1989. Releases were made in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta from 1989 to 1993. Cassida azurea survived from 3 to 6 years and was considered established at 8 of the 18 release sites in the three provinces but has not yet increased to densities sufficient to reduce bladder campion populations.

Résumé

Cassida azurea Fab. (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae) a été étudié comme agent de contrôle contre la mauvaise herbe silène enflé, Silene vulgaris (Moench) Garcke (Caryophyllaceae). Afin de supplémenter les donnés publiés auparavant concernant la spécifité d’hôte du coléoptère, d’autres expériences à choix obligatoire ont été menées. Le larves de premier stade ont été mises en presence d’un choix sept espèces apparentées au silène enflé. Seulement un adulte mâle a émergé sur Dianthus caryophyllus L. cv. China Doll et une femelle sur Lychnis × haageana Lem. Cette femelle n’a pas pondu d’oeufs quand elle continuait à se nourrir de L. × haageana. Quant aux tests faits avec les adultes, oogénèse s’est produite seulement quand les coléoptères étaient nourris de silène enflé, et une femelle a pondu un oeuf pendant qu’elle se nourrissait de Gypsophila pacifica Kom. Les larves des premier stade ne sont pas maturées jusqu’au stade adulte sur trois espèces de Silene indigènes de l’Amérique du Nord, mais deux adultes son développées sur trois autres espèces indigènes. Le résultats de ces expériences ainsi que le rapports dans la littérature laissant conduire que la C. azurea a une grande spécifité d’hôte et la permission pour des lâchages dans le champs a été accordée en 1989. Des lâchages ont été effectués au Manitoba, en Saskatchewan et en Alberta de 1989 a 1993. Cassida azurea a survécu de 3 à 6 ans, et a été considéré comme établi dans 8 parmi les 18 sites de lâchage dans les trois provinces. Il ne s’est pas encore augmenté suffisammant pour réduire les populations de silène enflé.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 129 , Issue 5 , October 1997 , pp. 949 - 958
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1997

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