Trichosirocalus horridus

Trichosirocalus horridus is a species of true weevil, native to Europe. It is a biological pest control agent that was introduced into the United States in 1974 to control exotic thistles, especially in the Cirsium and Carduus genera.[2][3]

Trichosirocalus horridus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Genus: Trichosirocalus
Species:
T. horridus
Binomial name
Trichosirocalus horridus
(Panzer, 1801) [1]

Life history

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Trichosirocalus horridus feeds on the rosettes of thistles, with the larvae causing most damage to the plant.

Nontarget impacts

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In 2004, T. horridus was observed feeding on the native thistle Cirsium altissimum L. in Nebraska.[4] The weevil was observed on the native thistle at about the same rate as the targeted invasive thistle (Cirsium vulgare).[4] T. horridus has also been observed feeding on 5 native Cirsium species in Tennessee.[5]

References

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  1. ^ "Trichosirocalus horridus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
  2. ^ "Ward, R. H., R. L. Pienkowski, and L. T. Kok. 1 December 1974. Host Specificity of the First-Instar of Ceuthorhynchidius horridus a Weevil for Biological Control of Thistles. Journal of Economic Entomology. 67: 735-737". doi:10.1093/jee/67.6.735. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ "Kok, L. T. 1975. Host specificity studies on Ceuthorhynchidius horridus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the biocontrol of Musk and Plumeless thistles. Weed Res. 15: 21-25". doi:10.1111/j.1365-3180.1975.tb01091.x. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ a b Masaru Takahashi; Svata M. Louda; Tom E. X. Miller & Charles W. O’Briens (2009). "Occurrence of Trichosirocalus horridus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Native Cirsium altissimum Versus Exotic C. vulgare in North American Tallgrass Prairie" (PDF). Environmental Entomology. 38 (3). Environ. Entomol. 38(3): 731-740 (2009): 731–740. doi:10.1603/022.038.0325. PMID 19508782. S2CID 55487.
  5. ^ Gregory J. Wiggins; Jerome F. Grant; Paris L. Lambdin; Jack W. Ranney; John B. Wilkerson (2009). "First documentation of adult Trichosirocalus horridus on several non-target native Cirsium species in Tennessee". Biocontrol Science and Technology. 19 (9). Biocontrol Science and Technology, Volume 19, Issue 9 October 2009 , pages 993 - 998: 993–998. Bibcode:2009BioST..19..993W. doi:10.1080/09583150903191343. S2CID 85089816.

Further reading

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  • Coombs, Eric M. (2004). Coombs, E. M., et al., Eds. (2004). Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 365. Oregon State University Press. ISBN 978-0870710292.