Abstract
The biology of an undescribed weevil,Eutinobothrus sp., and its specificity toSida acuta, a serious weed in northern Australia, were studied in a quarantine facility in Australia. Sixty-eight plant species were screened and onlyS. acuta andS. rhombifolia could sustain populations ofEutinobothrus sp. Adults feed externally on the stems and oviposit in feeding scars. Larvae feed internally and pupate in the stem. Prepupae and pupae may aestivate in the stem and adults emerge with the onset of the wet season when new growth is evident.Eutinobothrus sp. was released in January, 1994 in the Northern Territory and has established.
Résumé
La biologie d'Eutinobothrus sp., charançon en cours de description, et sa spécificité vis-à-vis deSida acuta, mauvaise herbe qui pose problème en Australie du nord, ont été étudiées en conditions de quarantaine en Australie. Soixante-huit espèces de plante ont été testées et seulesS. acuta etS. rhombifolia ont pu servir de nourriture pour les populations d'Eutinobothrus sp. Les adultes se nourrissent sur les tiges et pondent dans les perforation laissées par les prises alimentaires. Les larves se nourrissent des tissus de la plante et la nymphe se forme dans la tige. La prénymphe et la nymphe peuvent passer la période estivale dans la tige et les adultes émergent au tout début de la saison humide quand débute une nouvelle croissance de la plante. Des lâchers d'Eutinobothrus sp. effectués en janvier 1994 dans le Territoire du Nord ont abouti à son acclimatation.
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Day, M.D., Forno, I.W., Segura, R. et al. Life cycle and host specificity ofEutinobothrus sp. (Col.: curculionidae) an agent for biological control ofSida acuta (malvaceae) in the northern territory, Australia. Entomophaga 40, 345–355 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02373722
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02373722