Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-22T12:16:01.675Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The biology and host specificity of the Echium leaf miner Dialectica scalariella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. J. Wapshere  and
A. A. Kirk
A. J. Wapshere
Affiliation:
CSIRO Biological Control Unit, 335 Avenue Abbe Paul Parguel, 34000 Montpellier, France.
A. A. Kirk
Affiliation:
CSIRO Biological Control Unit, 335 Avenue Abbe Paul Parguel, 34000 Montpellier, France.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The gracillariid leaf miner Dialectica scalariella (Zell.), which occurs in Mediterranean Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and the Canaries, is a potential biological control agent for the weed Echium plantagineum in Australia. The moth has a high fecundity and oviposits on the leaves of Echium spp. and other Boraginaceae. The larvae destroy the leaves by forming large bulbous blotch mines. There are 5-7 generations per year. Host restriction of D. scalariella to Boraginaceae was tested by exposing a wide range of cultivated plants considered to be most at risk from it because of their close relation to Boraginaceae, because they were of Australian or non-European origin, because they did not occur in the same ecoclimatic region as D. scalariella, because their entomological fauna was poorly known, and because they or related plants were known to be attacked by insects closely related to D. scalariella. The host restriction of the moth was confirmed as only boraginaceous plants were attacked. It was concluded that both in terms of effectiveness and specificity D. scalariella could serve as a biological control agent in Australia for E. plantagineum.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 67 , Issue 4 , December 1977 , pp. 627 - 633
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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

Balachowsky, A. S.. (Ed.). (1966). Entomologie appliqueé à l'agriculture. Tome II. Lépidoptéres. Premier volume. — 1057 pp. Paris, Masson & Cie.Google Scholar
Balachowsky, A. & Mesnil, L.. (1935–1936). Insectes nuisibles aux plantes cultivées. Tomes I et II. — 1921 pp. Paris, Etablissements Busson.Google Scholar
Blunk, H.. (Ed.) (1953). Tierische Schadlinge an Nutzpflanzen: Lepidopteren und Trichopteren. pp. 1–518 in Sorauer, P. (Ed.). Handbuch der Pflanzenkrankheiten. Band IV. 2. Lief. —5th edn, 518 pp. Berlin, Parey.Google Scholar
Bonnemaison, L.. (1962). Les ennemis animaux des plantes cultivées et des forêets. II. — 500 pp. Paris. Éditions Sep.Google Scholar
Bouček, Z. & Askew, R. R.. (1968). Index of palearctic Eulophidae (excl. Tetrastichinae).pp. 1–254 in Delucchi. V. & Remaudière, G.. (Eds.). Index of entomophagous insects. 254 pp. Paris, Le Francois.Google Scholar
Delucchi, V. L.. (1958). Lithocolletis messaniella Zeller (Lep. Gracillariidae): analysis of some mortality factors with particular reference to its parasite complex. —Entomophaga 3, 203–270.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grandi, G.. (1951). Introduzione allo studio dell'entomoiogia. Vol. II. Endopterigoti. — 1332 pp. Bologna, Edizione Agricole.Google Scholar
Lhomme, L.. (1935). Catalogue des LépidoptØres de France et de Belgique. Vol. II. Micro-lépidoptères. — 1252 pp. LeCarriol par Douelle (Lot). Private publ.Google Scholar
Martin, J. L.. (1956). The bionomics of the aspen blotch miner, Lithocolletis salicifoliella Cham. (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae). —Can. Ent. 88, 155–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reh, L.. (1925). Tierische Schädlinge an Nutzpflanzen. pp. 1–483 in Sorauer, P. (Ed.). Handbuch der Pflanzenkrankheiten. Band IV. — 4th edn, 483 pp. Berlin, Parey.Google Scholar
Rivnay, E.. (1962). Field crop pests in the near east. — 450 pp. The Hague, Junk.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Silvestri, F.. (1942). Compendio di entomologia applicata. Vol. II. — 699 pp. Portici, Tipografia Bellavista.Google Scholar
Spuler, A.. (1913). Die sogenannten Kleinschmetterlinge Europas. — 525 pp. Stuttgart, Schweitzerbartsche.Google Scholar
Vari, L.. (1961). South African Lepidoptera. Vol. I. Lithocolletidae. —Transv. Mus. Mem. no. 12, 238 pp.Google Scholar
Wapshere, A. J.. (1973). A comparison of strategies for screening biological control organisms for weeds. —Misc. Publs. Commonw. Inst. biol. Control no. 6, 151–158.Google Scholar
Wapshere, A. J.. (1974). A strategy for evaluating the safety of organisms for biological weed control. —Ann. appl. Biol. 77, 201–211.Google Scholar