Project Number: 5325-22000-025-02
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 01, 2011
End Date: Dec 31, 2011

Objective:
Search for arthropods in Central Asia that can be used as biological control agents of Russian thistle and Scotch thistle, and evaluate their host plant specificity.

Approach:
We will: 1) conduct choice oviposition experiments on Lixus incanescens and Trichosirocalus briesei; 2) Start field host specificity evaluation of Larinus latus; 3) collect at least one beetle species from Russian thistle and start host specificity evaluations; 4) Search for new potential agents in Eurasia.