Aphthona nigriscutis is a root-feeding flea beetle of the genus Aphthona. It is one of five Aphthona spp. that has been used in Alberta, Canada to control leafy spurge, an invasive plant that reduces pasture quality and degrades natural habitats.[1] It, along with A. lacertosa, is one of only two biocontrol agents thought to be effective against leafy spurge.[2]
| Aphthona nigriscutis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Genus: | Aphthona |
| Species: | A. nigriscutis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras, 1860
| |
Larvae cause the most damage to the plant by feeding on the roots.[2]
Nontarget impacts
editA. nigriscutis will feed on the native Euphorbia robusta Engelm, though this is thought to be acceptable as the weevil significantly reduces leafy spurge populations over time.[3]
Return of diversity following biocontrol
editA 14-year study documented a slight increase plant species richness in a Montana grassland system after release of A. nigriscutis to control leafy spurge.[4]
References
edit- ^ Bourchier, R., Erb, S., McClay, A, and Gassman, A. 2001. Euphorbia esula (L.) (Leafy spurge) and Euphorbia cyparissias (L.) (Cypress Spurge) (Ephorbiaceae). In Mason, P. and Huber, S. (Eds). Biological control programmes against insects and weeds in Canada 1981-2000. CABI Publishing, Wallingford, UK.
- ^ a b Andrea Ruth Kalischuk (May 2001). "Density and efficacy of the flea beetle Aphthona lacertosa (Rosenhauer), an introduced biocontrol agent for leafy spurge, in Alberta" (PDF). University of Lethbridge.
- ^ John L. Baker and Nancy A. P. Webber (2008). "Feeding Impacts of a Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia Esula) Biological Control Agent on a Native Plant, Euphorbia Robusta". Invasive Plant Science and Management. 1. Invasive Plant Science and Management 1(1):26-30. 2008: 26–30. doi:10.1614/IPSM-07-018.1. S2CID 86092372.
- ^ Peter Lesica and Dave Hanna (2009). "Effect of Biological Control on Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula) and Diversity of Associated Grasslands Over 14 Years". Invasive Plant Science and Management. 2 (2). Invasive Plant Science and Management 2(2):151-157. 2009: 151–157. doi:10.1614/IPSM-08-128.1. S2CID 85934540.
 | This Galerucinae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |