Oberea erythrocephala

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Oberea erythrocephala
Oberea erythrocephala 1148006.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cerambycidae
Subfamily: Lamiinae
Genus: Oberea
Species:
O. erythrocephala
Binomial name
Oberea erythrocephala
Shrank, 1776

Oberea erythrocephala, the leafy spurge stem boring beetle or red-headed leafy spurge stem borer is a species of longhorn beetle that is a biological control agent for leafy spurge. It is an effective killer of the pest but only works on certain strains of leafy spurge, namely the subgenus Esula of the genus Euphorbia. Because of this, the beetle is considered as secondary in leafy spurge control to five species of Aphthona flea beetle. [1]

Contents

Morphology

Leafy spurge stem boring beetle adults are slender, elongate beetles. Their hind wings are grayish-black, and the head is red. The species also has black eyes. Larvae are also slender and elongate but have white and black heads. [2] [1]

Behavior

Leafy spurge stem boring beetles are solitary. They come together to mate between late May and June. Females lay their eggs from late June to mid-July. [2] [1]

The beetles have a singular diet, only eating certain varieties of leafy spurge. Although being well-established in several states, they are not usually found in large numbers. The most reliable indicator of the presence of leafy spurge stem boring beetles is ring-like grooves chewed around leafy spurge stems. [2] [1]

Pest control

Leafy spurge stem boring beetles are mainly used for control of the leafy spurge. They are combined with about 10 other Eurasian insect species, and are used to biologically control leafy spurge. [1]

The approval for the introduction of the beetle species occurred in 1980. Fifteen years later, the leafy spurge stem boring beetle was widely distributed in at least fifteen US states and several Canadian provinces. [1]

Although the beetle is an introduced, non-native species to the US and Canada, it has not been detrimental to the ecosystems there in any way. [2] [1] This is probably due to the limited diet the species has. [1]

Related Research Articles

Weed control

Weed control is the botanical component of pest control, which attempts to stop weeds, especially noxious weeds, from competing with desired flora and fauna including domesticated plants and livestock, and in natural settings preventing non native species competing with native species.

<i>Euphorbia esula</i> Species of plant

Euphorbia esula, commonly known as green spurge or leafy spurge, is a species of spurge native to central and southern Europe, and eastward through most of Asia north of the Himalaya to Korea and eastern Siberia.

<i>Aphthona</i> Genus of beetles

Aphthona is a genus of beetle, in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and Asia. More specifically, Aphthona are flea beetles, meaning they have enlarged hind legs for jumping away from potential danger. There are 135 species known from the Palaearctic region.

<i>Aphthona flava</i> Species of beetle

Aphthona flava is a beetle of the genus Aphthona. It is native to Eurasia, and has been introduced into North America as a biocontrol agent for leafy spurge. Adults are brown and difficult to distinguish in the field from A. cyparissiae and A. nigriscutis. A. flava is still the dominant beetle at some Manitoba release sites, but it is relatively scarce in North Dakota and Minnesota. Besides Manitoba, it is widespread in Hungary and Italy.

<i>Euphorbia myrsinites</i> Species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae

Euphorbia myrsinites, the myrtle spurge, blue spurge, or broad-leaved glaucous-spurge, is a succulent species of flowering plant in the spurge family Euphorbiaceae.

Lymexylidae Family of beetles

The Lymexylidae, also known as ship-timber beetles, are a family of wood-boring beetles. Lymexylidae belong to the suborder Polyphaga and are the sole member of the superfamily Lymexyloidea.

Scarlet lily beetle Species of beetle

The scarlet lily beetle, red lily beetle, or lily leaf beetle, is a leaf beetle that eats the leaves, stem, buds, and flowers, of lilies, fritillaries and other members of the family Liliaceae. It lays its eggs most often on Lilium and Fritillaria species. In the absence of Lilium and Fritillaria species, there are fewer eggs laid and the survival rate of eggs and larvae is reduced. It is now a pest in most temperate climates where lilies are cultivated.

Cleridae Checkered beetles

Cleridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea. They are commonly known as checkered beetles. The family Cleridae has a worldwide distribution, and a variety of habitats and feeding preferences.

<i>Hyles euphorbiae</i> Species of moth

Hyles euphorbiae, the spurge hawk-moth, is a European moth of the family Sphingidae. This hawk moth is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed leafy spurge, but usually only in conjunction with other agents. The larvae consume the leaves and bracts of the plant. The species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae.

<i>Banksia erythrocephala</i> Species of shrub in the family Proteaceae endemic to Western Australia

Banksia erythrocephala is a species of prickly shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has erect stems, sharply pointed pinnatifid leaves, cream-coloured and reddish black or all cream-coloured and yellow flowers, and egg-shaped fruit.

Aphthona abdominalis is a species of leaf beetle known as the minute spurge flea beetle. It was used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed leafy spurge, but never established a viable population.

Aphthona czwalinae is a species of leaf beetle known as the black leafy spurge flea beetle. It is used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed leafy spurge.

Coccinellidae Family of beetles

Coccinellidae is a widespread family of small beetles ranging in size from 0.8 to 18 mm. The family is commonly known as ladybugs in North America and ladybirds in Great Britain and other parts of the English-speaking world. Entomologists prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not classified as true bugs.

Aphthona lacertosa is a root-feeding flea beetle of the genus Aphthona. It is one of 5 Aphthona spp. that has been used in Alberta, Canada to control leafy spurge, an invasive plant that reduces pasture quality and degrades natural habitats.

Aphthona nigriscutis is a root-feeding flea beetle of the genus Aphthona. It is one of 5 Aphthona spp. that has been used in Alberta, Canada to control leafy spurge, an invasive plant that reduces pasture quality and degrades natural habitats. It, along with A. lacertosa, is one of only two biocontrol agents thought to be effective against leafy spurge.

<i>Chamaesphecia hungarica</i> Species of moth

Chamaesphecia hungarica, the Hungarian clearwing moth, is a moth of the family Sesiidae. It is native to the south-eastern Czech Republic and Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Serbia and Croatia. It was originally approved for introduction into the United States in 1993. It has been released at several leafy spurge-infested sites in Montana and North Dakota.

<i>Oberea tripunctata</i> Species of beetle

Oberea tripunctata, the dogwood twig borer, is a species of longhorn beetle that is a widespread pest that attacks dogwood trees.

<i>Oberea pupillata</i> Species of beetle

Oberea pupillata is a species of beetle in the family Cerambycidae. It was described by Leonard Gyllenhaal in 1817, originally under the genus Saperda.

Acantholyda erythrocephala is a species of sawfly in the family Pamphiliidae commonly known as the red-headed pine sawfly or the pine false webworm. Native to Europe, it has been introduced into North America where it has become invasive.

<i>Euphorbia virgata</i> Species of flowering plant

Euphorbia virgata, commonly known as leafy spurge, wolf's milk leafy spurge, or wolf's milk is a species of spurge native to Europe and Asia, and introduced in North America, where it is an invasive species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Oberea erythrocephala (Coleoptera:Cerambycidae)". Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Oberea erythrocephala". Integrated Weed Control Project. Retrieved May 10, 2015.