Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T19:07:40.621Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dispersal of Rhinocyllus conicus for Biocontrol of Musk Thistle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

J. M. Hodgson  and
N. E. Rees
J. M. Hodgson
Affiliation:
Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agr., Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59715
N. E. Rees
Affiliation:
Agr. Res. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agr., Montana State Univ., Bozeman, MT 59715
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A weevil [Rhinocyllus conicus (Froelich)] host specific to Carduus, Cirsium, Silybum, and Onopordum, was introduced into Gallatin County, Montana, for biocontrol of musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.). Releases were made in 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1973 on local musk thistle infestations. The insects became established and overwintered successfully. In 1974, R. conicus was found over a 1,280-km2 area of the county in seed heads of musk thistle. Weevil larvae severely infected the primary flowers, but only a few secondary and later flowers were attacked. Seed production from infected primary flowers was greatly reduced, and other factors influenced reduction of seeds from secondary and later flowers.

Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 24 , Issue 1 , January 1976 , pp. 59 - 62
Copyright
Copyright © 1976 by the Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Delahunty, E. 1961. Nodding thistle control with chemicals. New Zealand J. Agr. 103(9):23–25.Google Scholar
2. Feldman, Israel, McCarty, M.K., and Scrifres, C.J. 1968. Ecological and control studies of musk thistle. Weed Sci. 16(4):1–4.Google Scholar
3. Goeden, R.D. and Ricker, D.W. 1974. Imported seed weevils attack Italian and milk thistles in Southern California. Calif. Agr. 27:8–9.Google Scholar
4. Harris, P. and Zwolfer, H. 1971. Carduus acanthoides L., welted thistle, and C. nutans L., nodding thistle, biological control programmes against insects and weeds in Canada. Commw. Inst. Biol. Cont. Tech. Comm. No. 4. pp. 76–78.Google Scholar
5. Hawkes, R.B., Andres, L.A., and Dunn, P.H. 1973. Seed weevil released to control milk thistle. Calif. Agr. 26(12):14.Google Scholar
6. Hoffman, A. 1954. Coléoptéres Curculionides. In Faune de France. Vol. 59. pp. 487–1208.Google Scholar
7. Kates, A.H., Bingham, S.W., and Foy, C.L. 1972. Curled and musk thistle control. Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ. Coop. Ext. Serv. C.S. 110. 2 pp.Google Scholar
8. McCarty, M.K. 1964. New and problem weeds. Musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.). Proc. N. Cent. Weed Contr. Conf. 20:62–63.Google Scholar
9. Mellini, E. 1951. Insetti del Carduus nutans L., II. Rhinocyllus conicus Fröl e Larinus jaceae F. (Col. Curculionidae). Boll. Ent. Bologna 18:319–349.Google Scholar
10. Scherf, H. 1964. Die Entwicklungsstadien der mitteleuropaischen Curculioniden (Morphologie, Bionomie, Oekdogie). Abh. senckenb. natur/.Ges., no. 506, 335 pp. (Frankfurt/m.) Google Scholar
11. Surles, W.W., Kok, L.T., and Pienkowski, R.L. 1974. Rhinocyllus conicus establishment for biocontrol of thistles in Virginia. Weed Sci. 22(1):1–3.Google Scholar
12. Zwolfer, H. 1967. The host range, distribution and life history of Rhinocyllus conicus Froel. (Col. Curculionidae). Commonwealth Inst. Biol. Cont. Progr. Rep. No. XVIII. 21 pp.Google Scholar