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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Invasive Species and Pollinator Health » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #212081

Title: Effectiveness of Capitula Damaging Insects on Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.)

Author
item UYGUR, SIBEL - CUKUROVA UNIVERSITY
item Smith, Lincoln
item UYGUR, F. NEZIHI - CUKUROVA UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/29/2007
Publication Date: 8/27/2007
Citation: Uygur, S., Smith, L., Uygur, F. 2007. Effectiveness of Capitula Damaging Insects on Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.). Meeting Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) is an annual weed in the Family Asteraceae. It is a competitive rangeland weed that decreases forage availability in pastures. Yellow starthistle was identified in several different crops and field margins in Turkey. Biological control is an important tool for controlling the pasture weeds since the chemical control is expensive and environmentally harmful. Some capitulum-feeding insects have been introduced to North America in an attempt to control yellow starthistle by reducing seed production. This study was conducted to learn about the effects of capitula insects on yellow starthistle in Turkey. In 2004 and 2005, capitula were collected from three ecologically different locations, put separate paper bags and transferred to a cold room (4°C) for one month, then they were left in laboratory conditions until opened. Each capitula was examined and dissected using a stereomicroscope. Some parameters such as capitula diameter, number of damaged, undamaged and undeveloped seeds, presence of flower, external feeding damage and emergence hole were recorded. In general, 37% of all capitula were damaged by natural enemies in 2004, and 36% in 2005.