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The biology and host specificity of Pareuchaetes aurata aurata (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), a ‘new association’ biological control agent for Chromolaena odorata (Compositae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

R.L. Kluge  and
P.M. Caldwell
R.L. Kluge*
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
P.M. Caldwell
Affiliation:
Plant Protection Research Institute, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
*
Dr R.L. Kluge, Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, Private Bag X9059, Pietermaritzburg 3200, Republic of South Africa.
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Abstract

Pareuchaetes aurata aurata (Butler) from Chromolaena jujuensis in northern Argentina was tested as a biological control candidate for the composite weed C. odorata. The larvae feed voraciously and complete their development on C. odorata. The host-plant feeding range of P. a. aurata is limited to the genus Chromolaena. It is suggested that the egg-laying behaviour of P. a. aurata, which scatters its eggs around the base of the host-plant, will help to overcome the problem of ant predation which prevented the establishment of Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata Rego Barros, which lays its eggs in batches, in South Africa. Any possible benefits of the new association between P. a. aurata and C. odorata may also contribute to the success of this biological control programme.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 83 , Issue 1 , March 1993 , pp. 87 - 93
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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