Location: Emerging Pests and Pathogens Research
Project Number: 8062-22620-005-004-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jul 1, 2015
End Date: Jun 30, 2020
Objective:
Define the host specificity of the seed-feeding fly Euphranta connexa to determine its potential as a biological control agent for invasive Vincetoxicum spp. in North America.
Determine the host specificity of the beetle Chrysochus asclepiadeus, including open field tests.
Approach:
Field-collected insects will be overwintered (if needed) and subjected to either no-choice oviposition and larval development tests or open field feeding and oviposition tests with plant species from related subtribes of the target weeds. Test plants will be grown from seeds or rootstocks.
