Aphthona nigriscutis

Aphthona nigriscutis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Cucujiformia
Family:	Chrysomelidae
Genus:	Aphthona
Species:	A. nigriscutis
Binomial name
Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras, 1860

Aphthona nigriscutis is a root-feeding flea beetle of the genus Aphthona . It is one of five Aphthona spp. that has been used in Alberta, Canada to control leafy spurge, an invasive plant that reduces pasture quality and degrades natural habitats. ^[1] It, along with A. lacertosa, is one of only two biocontrol agents thought to be effective against leafy spurge. ^[2]

Larvae cause the most damage to the plant by feeding on the roots. ^[2]

Nontarget impacts

A. nigriscutis will feed on the native Euphorbia robusta Engelm, though this is thought to be acceptable as the weevil significantly reduces leafy spurge populations over time. ^[3]

Return of diversity following biocontrol

A 14-year study documented a slight increase plant species richness in a Montana grassland system after release of A. nigriscutis to control leafy spurge. ^[4]

References

1. Bourchier, R., Erb, S., McClay, A, and Gassman, A. 2001. Euphorbia esula (L.) (Leafy spurge) and Euphorbia cyparissias (L.) (Cypress Spurge) (Ephorbiaceae). In Mason, P. and Huber, S. (Eds). Biological control programmes against insects and weeds in Canada 1981-2000. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
2. Andrea Ruth Kalischuk (May 2001). "Density and efficacy of the flea beetle Aphthona lacertosa (Rosenhauer), an introduced biocontrol agent for leafy spurge, in Alberta" (PDF). University of Lethbridge.
3. John L. Baker and Nancy A. P. Webber (2008). "Feeding Impacts of a Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia Esula) Biological Control Agent on a Native Plant, Euphorbia Robusta" . Invasive Plant Science and Management. 1. Invasive Plant Science and Management 1(1):26-30. 2008: 26–30. doi:10.1614/IPSM-07-018.1. S2CID   86092372.
4. Peter Lesica and Dave Hanna (2009). "Effect of Biological Control on Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) and Diversity of Associated Grasslands Over 14 Years" . Invasive Plant Science and Management. 2 (2). Invasive Plant Science and Management 2(2):151-157. 2009: 151–157. doi:10.1614/IPSM-08-128.1. S2CID   85934540.