Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T09:57:57.477Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Integration of Aphthona spp. flea beetles and herbicides for leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) control

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Rodney G. Lym  and
Jeffrey A. Nelson
Jeffrey A. Nelson
Affiliation:
Plant Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Neither herbicides nor Aphthona spp. biological control agents provide satisfactory leafy spurge control in all environments where the weed is found. Open-release and caged field studies were conducted to determine the effect of herbicides used in combination with Aphthona spp. flea beetles on both the leafy spurge control and the biological control agent populations. Leafy spurge density was reduced more rapidly when A. nigriscutis or a mixture of A. czwalinae and A. lacertosa was combined with a fall-applied treatment of picloram plus 2,4-D than when either method was used alone. The combination treatment reduced leafy spurge density 3 to 5 yr earlier than did either the herbicides or the biocontrol agents alone and once reduced, the Aphthona flea beetles maintained acceptable control for at least 7 yr. Spring-applied herbicides eliminated the adult food source and negatively affected the flea beetle establishment, but fall-applied treatments did not reduce the flea beetle establishment or its reproduction. The combination treatment was most successful when used with established Aphthona spp. populations that were not increasing in size or reducing leafy spurge density. Land managers could realize a three- to fivefold cost savings with the combination treatment compared with herbicides alone.

Keywords

Picloram2,4-DAphthona nigriscutis FoudrasAphthona czwalinae WeiseAphthona lacertosa Rosenhauerleafy spurge, Euphorbia esula L. EPHESBiocontrolinvasive weedIPMrangeland
Type
Research Article
Information
Weed Science , Volume 50 , Issue 6 , December 2002 , pp. 812 - 819
Copyright
Copyright © 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.)

Footnotes

Present address: Dow AgroSciences LLC, 1804 Warwick Cove, Cedar Park, TX 78613

References

Literature Cited

Bangsund, D. A. and Leistritz, F. L. 1991. Economic Impact of Leafy Spurge in Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University, Agricultural Economics Rep. 275.Google Scholar
Bangsund, D. A., Leitch, J. A., and Leistritz, F. L. 1996. Economics of herbicide control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.). J. Agric. Res. Econ. 21:381–395.Google Scholar
Bangsund, D. A., Leitch, J. A., and Leistritz, F. L. 1997. Predicted Future Economic Impacts of Biological Control of Leafy Spurge in the Upper Midwest. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University, Agricultural Economics Rep. 382.Google Scholar
Carlson, R. B. and Mundal, D. A. 1990. Introduction of insects for the biological control of leafy spurge in North Dakota. N. D. Farm Res. 47:7–8.Google Scholar
Gassmann, A., Schroeder, D., Maw, E., and Sommer, G. 1996. Biology, ecology, and host specificity of European Aphthona spp. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) used as biocontrol agents for leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiaceae), in North America. Biol. Control 6:105–113.Google Scholar
Hansen, R. W., Richard, R. D., Parker, P. E., and Wendel, L. E. 1997. Distribution of biological control agents of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) in the United States: 1988–1996. Biol. Control 10:129–142.Google Scholar
Harris, P. 1991. Classical biocontrol of weeds: its definition, selection of effective agents, and administrative-political problems. Can. Entomol. 123:827–849.Google Scholar
Hein, D. G. and Miller, S. D. 1991. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) response to single and repetitive picloram treatments. Weed Technol. 5:881–883.Google Scholar
Kirby, D. R., Carlson, R. B., Krabbenhoft, K. D., Mundal, D., and Kirby, M. M. 2000. Biological control of leafy spurge with introduced flea beetles (Aphthona spp.). J. Range Manag. 53:305–308.Google Scholar
Kirby, D. R., Hayek, M., Cline, D., Krabbenhoft, K., and O’Brien, C. 1999. Site characteristics of established flea beetle colonies in western North Dakota. In Proceedings of the Leafy Spurge Symposium, Medora, ND. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University. 24 p.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. 1998. The biology and integrated management of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) on North Dakota rangeland. Weed Technol. 12:367–373.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Carlson, R. B. 1994. Effect of herbicide treatment on leafy spurge gall midge (Spurgia esulae) population. Weed Technol. 8:285–288.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Kirby, D. R. 1987. Cattle foraging behavior in leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula)-infested rangeland. Weed Technol. 1:314–318.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1985. Leafy spurge control with herbicides in North Dakota: 20-year summary. J. Range Manag. 38:149–154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Messersmith, C. G. 1994. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) control, forage production, and economic return with fall-applied herbicides. Weed Technol. 8:824–829.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Nelson, J. A. 2000. Biological control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) with Aphthona spp. along railroad right-of-way. Weed Technol. 14:642–646.Google Scholar
Lym, R. G. and Zollinger, R. K. 1995. Integrated Management of Leafy Spurge. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State Extension Service Circ. W-866.Google Scholar
Maw, E. 1981. Biology of Some Aphthona spp. (Col.: Chrysomelidae) Feeding on Euphorbia sp. (Euphorbiaceae) with Special References to Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia sp. near esula). . University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB. 258 p.Google Scholar
Mundal, D. A. and Carlson, R. B. 1999. Aphthona Flea Beetle Establishment Determined by Soil Composition and Root Growth Pattern. Page 9 In Proceedings of the Leafy Spurge Symposium. Medora, ND. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University.Google Scholar
Rees, N. E. and Fay, P. K. 1989. Survival of leafy spurge hawk moths when larvae are exposed to 2,4-D or picloram. Weed Technol. 3:429–431.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[SAS] Statistical Analysis Systems. 1992. SAS User's Guide. Cary, NC: Statistical Analysis Systems Institute.Google Scholar
Sell, R. S., Bangsund, D. A., Leistritz, F. L., and Nudell, D. 1998. Ranch Operators Perceptions of Leafy Spurge. Fargo, ND: North Dakota State University, Agricultural Economics Rep. 400.Google Scholar
Selleck, G. W., Coupland, R. T., and Frankton, C. 1962. Leafy spurge in Saskatchewan. Ecol. Monogr. 32:1–29.Google Scholar