Bionomics and seasonal occurrence of Larinus filiformis Petri, 1907 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in eastern Turkey, a potential biological control agent for Centaurea solstitialis L.

摘要

We conducted studies on the life history of Larinus filiformis Petri, 1907 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Lixinae) to determine if it is worthy of further evaluation as a classical biological control agent of Centaurea solstitialis L. (Asteraceae: Cardueae), yellow starthistle. The species occurs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Bulgaria. Adults have been reared only from C. solstitialis. In eastern Turkey, adults were active from mid-May to late July and oviposited in capitula (flower heads) of C. solstitialis from mid-June to mid-July. In the spring, before females begin ovipositing, adults feed on the immature flower buds of C. solstitialis, preventing them from developing. Larvae develop in about 6 weeks and destroy all the seeds in a capitulum.The insect is univoltine in eastern Turkey, and adults hibernate from mid-September to mid-May.