Aphthona abdominalis

Aphthona abdominalis is a species of leaf beetle known as the minute spurge flea beetle. It was used as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious weed leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), but never established a viable population.

Aphthona abdominalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Infraorder: Cucujiformia
Family: Chrysomelidae
Genus: Aphthona
Species:
A. abdominalis
Binomial name
Aphthona abdominalis
(Duftschmid, 1825)

The adult beetle is light orange with a black abdomen and only about 2 millimeters long. The female lays up to 100 eggs on or near leafy spurge, its host plant. The larva emerges and feeds on the roots of the plant, while the adult eats the leaves and flowers of the plant. Both larva and adult inflict damage on the plant by feeding. In its native range this beetle feeds on leafy spurge and other closely related plants. It is not known to attack other types of plants.

This beetle is native to Eurasia. It was first released as a biocontrol agent for leafy spurge in the United States in the early 1990s, but apparently never established.[1] A abdominalis was never introduced to Canada.[2] This beetle is used for biocontrol less often than other Aphthona species.

References
  1. Anon (2006). "Ecology and management of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.)" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-2.
  2. Bourchier, R.S., Erb, S., McClay, A.S., Gassmann, A., 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.) leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyparissias (L.) cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In: Mason, P., Huber, J. (Eds.), Biological Control Programmes Against Insect and Weeds in Canada 1981–2000. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough, UK, pp. 346–358.
  • Coombs, E. M., et al., Eds. (2004). Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 235.


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