Larinus filiformis
Encyclopedia
Larinus filiformis is a species of true weevil
found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
The weevil's main host plant in its native range is yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis. For this reason, there is interest in determining whether L. filiformis would be a good candidate for classical biological control of the noxious weed.
In the field, this weevil has only been reported on yellow starthistle.
It is most common at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,400 meters in Turkey.
sp. (Eulophidae
), and unidentified species of Eurytomidae
and Ormyridae
.
Curculionidae
Curculionidae is the family of the "true" weevils . It was formerly recognized in 1998 as the largest of any animal family, with over 40,000 species described worldwide at that time...
found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
The weevil's main host plant in its native range is yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis. For this reason, there is interest in determining whether L. filiformis would be a good candidate for classical biological control of the noxious weed.
In the field, this weevil has only been reported on yellow starthistle.
Life History
L. filiformis is univoltine in Turkey. Females lay eggs on the flowerheads, and larvae undergo development inside the flower heads. Adults emerge in spring when the temperature reaches about 20 degrees C.It is most common at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,400 meters in Turkey.
Parasitism
L. filiformis is parasitized by: Bracon urinator (F.), Bracon tshitsherini Kok. (Braconidae), Exeristes roborator Fab. (Ichneumonidae), AprostocetusAprostocetus
Aprostocetus is a genus of hymenopteran insects of the family Eulophidae. This very large group has a global distribution.-Widespread species:*A. antiguensis - Caribbean, Florida...
sp. (Eulophidae
Eulophidae
Eulophidae is a large family of hymenopteran insects, with over 4,300 described species in some 300 genera . The family as presently defined also includes the genus Elasmus, which was previously treated as a separate family, "Elasmidae", and is now treated as a subfamily of Eulophidae...
), and unidentified species of Eurytomidae
Eurytomidae
Eurytomidae is a family within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The group is apparently polyphyletic, though the different subfamilies may each be monophyletic, and may be elevated to family status in the near future...
and Ormyridae
Ormyridae
Ormyridae is a small family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. They are either parasitoids or hyperparasitoids on gall-forming insects, primarily cynipid wasps and tephritid flies...
.