Bio-agent Collection Cyphocleonus: hand pick, sweep net

Agapeta: hand pick, sweep net, vac

Larinus: sweep net + asperator or pump

Aphthona: sweep net + accelerator

Oberea: sweep net + hand pick from net.

Cyphocleonus achates – Root Boring Weevil

Adults emerge Aug./Sept. Lay eggs on root crown Larvae bore into root Over winter as larvae in

root Feeding in taproot and

exit hole cause damage Pupate in early summer Emerge and do it all

again Do not fly 2000-29,000+/yr..

Cyphocleonus achates knapweed root boring weevil

Agapeta zoegana - root boring moth

Biology: Adults emerge spring/summer

Lay eggs on lower stem

Larvae hatch, mine down stem into the root

Larvae over winter in root

Pupate in soil early/late spring

Larvae can move a short distance through soil to a new plant if theirs dies

Adults disperse by flying

Collected 2,950 in 2007!

Larinus minutus Biology:• Over winters as adult weevil!

• Adults gather at knapweed plants when flower buds appear

• Females lay one egg per flower

• Larvae soon hatch and consume seeds (that is a good thing!!)

• Pupate in destroyed flower

• Emerge as adult in late summer

• Fly away and over winter

• Strong flier, readily disperses

• Great one-two punch with root borers!!

Larinus Collections

Aphthona – leafy spurge flea beetles Adults emerge from soil early/mid summer

Release pheromone, stay together

Adults feed on spurge leaves, high #’s can damage plants

Scatter eggs on soil around spurge plants

Larvae soon hatch, feed on root hairs

Major effect: larval root feeding

Larvae feed all fall, winter & spring

Pupate in soil in late spring

Becoming very successful bio-agent!

Can hop & fly, we need to disperse them…

Pheromones: chemical scent signals

Aphthona Photos

Aphthona Collection

Leafy spurge flea beetle collection

Leafy spurge flea beetle collection

Flea Beetle “Bomb Shell”

Effect

-stay together and spread

outwards from initial release site

causing larger area of damage

each year.

-flea beetles release attractant pheromone