The white-lined sphinx: a biological control agent for purple loosestrife?

摘要

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L., hereafter PLS) was introduced into the U.S. from Europe by 1814. It has become a serious weed in the central United States only recently (Edwards, Adams, and Kvet 1995) where it competitively excludes most other plant species. In its homeland, PLS is an uncommon plant in wetlands and is considered to be a valued species. Here it is even worthless as wildlife habitat. Since this weed grows in wetland habitat, herbicides are not commonly used to control it. Biological control has been the primary tool for control of PLS.