Aphthona lacertosa
Encyclopedia
Aphthona lacertosa is a root-feeding flea beetle
of the genus
Aphthona
. It is one of 5 Aphthona spp. that has been used in Alberta
, Canada
to control leafy spurge
, an invasive plant that reduces pasture quality and degrades natural habitats.
A. lacertosa is native to Eurasia
, but was released into North America
first in 1990, then more widely in 1997. A. lacertosa was released specifically to control leafy spurge in wet habitats, where the use of herbicides is restricted and other previous biocontrol efforts had proven ineffective. It has established in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Adults of this species are black and indistinguishable from A. czwalinae in the field.
Larvae cause the most damage to the plant by feeding on the roots. In one study, beetle success in controlling leafy spurge was related to the temperature degree days at the control site, with sites with more temperature degree days having more success.
Beetle
Coleoptera is an order of insects commonly called beetles. The word "coleoptera" is from the Greek , koleos, "sheath"; and , pteron, "wing", thus "sheathed wing". Coleoptera contains more species than any other order, constituting almost 25% of all known life-forms...
of the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Aphthona
Aphthona
Aphthona is a genus of beetle, in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and Asia. More specifically, Aphthona are flea beetles, meaning they have enlarged hind legs for jumping away from potential danger....
. It is one of 5 Aphthona spp. that has been used in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to control leafy spurge
Leafy spurge
Euphorbia esula, commonly known as the Green Spurge or Leafy Spurge, is a species of spurge native to central and southern Europe , and eastward through most of Asia north of the Himalaya to Korea and eastern Siberia.It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 1-1.2 m tall, with several stems...
, an invasive plant that reduces pasture quality and degrades natural habitats.
A. lacertosa is native to Eurasia
Eurasia
Eurasia is a continent or supercontinent comprising the traditional continents of Europe and Asia ; covering about 52,990,000 km2 or about 10.6% of the Earth's surface located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres...
, but was released into North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
first in 1990, then more widely in 1997. A. lacertosa was released specifically to control leafy spurge in wet habitats, where the use of herbicides is restricted and other previous biocontrol efforts had proven ineffective. It has established in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
Adults of this species are black and indistinguishable from A. czwalinae in the field.
Larvae cause the most damage to the plant by feeding on the roots. In one study, beetle success in controlling leafy spurge was related to the temperature degree days at the control site, with sites with more temperature degree days having more success.