Bioagent Collection Cyphocleonus hand pick sweep net Agapeta

Bio-agent Collection ü Cyphocleonus: hand pick, sweep net ü Agapeta: hand pick, sweep net, vac ü Larinus: sweep net + asperator or pump ü Aphthona: sweep net + accelerator ü Oberea: sweep net + hand pick from net.

Cyphocleonus achates – Root Boring Weevil Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø 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: Ø Adults emerge spring/summer Ø Lay eggs on lower stem Ø Larvae hatch, mine down stem into the root Ø Larvae over winter in root Ø Pupate in soil early/late spring Ø Larvae can move a short distance through soil to a new plant if theirs dies Ø Adults disperse by flying ØCollected 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 Ø Adults emerge from soil early/mid summer Ø Release pheromone, stay together Ø Adults feed on spurge leaves, high #’s can damage plants Ø Scatter eggs on soil around spurge plants Ø Larvae soon hatch, feed on root hairs Ø Major effect: larval root feeding Ø Larvae feed all fall, winter & spring Ø Pupate in soil in late spring Ø Becoming very successful bio-agent! Ø 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