POTENTIAL FOR NON-TARGET EFFECTS (HOST-RANGE) OF APHTHONA SPP. FROM RUSSIA

• Sponsoring Institution: Agricultural Research Service/USDA
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: USDA COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 0402507
• Project Start Date: Mar 1, 1999
• Project End Date: Feb 28, 2004
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF ROME
(N/A)
ROME,null null

Performing Department
(N/A)

Non Technical Summary
(N/A)

Animal Health Component

80%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

20%

Applied

80%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
216	0790	1130	40%
216	2300	1070	20%
216	2300	1160	40%

Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
0790 - Rangelands, other; 2300 - Weeds;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1070 - Ecology; 1160 - Pathology;

Keywords

aphthona

biological control (weeds)

invasive species

ranges

beneficial insects

host range

weed control

Goals / Objectives
To conduct research on host-range and biology of cold adapted populations of Aphthona species from Russia.

Project Methods
Conventional host-range tests, as previously developed for Aphthona spp., will be employed in greenhouse tests. Selected test plants and the target biotypes of leafy spurge will be exposed to adults and larvae of the fleabeetles. Evaluations will include rates of oviposition and larval growth in non-choice and free-choice areas.

Progress 03/01/99 to 02/28/04

Outputs
4. What were the most significant accomplishments this past year? This final report serves to document research under a specific cooperative agreement between EBCL-USDA-ARS and the University of Rome (Rome, Italy). This project is subordinate to the parent CRIS 4012-22000- 020-00D where more information can be found. Field exploratins and collections were conducted in China in support of ongoing research on several Aphthona beetle species, natural enemies of leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula-virgata. Studies include laboratory and field host range tests of cold-adapted populations. Host range tests of A. russica were completed. Host specificity tests conducted on 36 plant species suggest that this cold-adapted insect species is host specific. Several agents have been sent from Europe to U.S. to implement the population of insects attacking leafy spurge. Three species of leaf beetles Aphthona abdominalis, Aphthona pygmaea, and Aphthona nigriscutis; the long horn beetle Oberea erythrocephala; the gall makers Dasineura capsulae, and Spurgia esulae. The gall midge, Spurgia capitigena, has been established in Montana on leafy spurge. The impact of this study is the knowledge that this insect is host specific and can be petitioned for release within the U.S.

Impacts
(N/A)

Publications