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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #300291
Title: A new species of Gadirtha Walker (Nolidae: Collomeninae): a proposed biological control agent of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) (Euphorbiaceae) in the United States

Author
item Pogue, Michael

Submitted to: ZooKeys
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/6/2014
Publication Date: 2/19/2014
Citation: Pogue, M.G. 2014. A new species of Gadirtha Walker (Nolidae: Collomeninae): A proposed biological control agent of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small) (Euphorbiaceae) in the United States. ZooKeys. 382:13-25.

Interpretive Summary: Owlet moth caterpillars can be used as biological control agents on invasive plants. It is of extreme importance to be able to accurately identify species that are of biological control interest. In this study a species of interest to biological control scientists was sent to me for identification. This species is being considered as a biological control agent against Chinese tallow in the southeastern United States. It was determined to be a new species. This study describes the adult and its life stages, including larva and pupa. This paper will be important to scientists working on the biological control of weeds, systematists, entomologists, and ecologists.

Technical Abstract: Gadirtha fusca, new species, is described from Hong Kong. Adult, male and female genitalia, larva, and pupa are described, illustrated, and compared with Gadirtha impingens Walker. Species is a possible biological control agent for Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera (L.) Small, Euphorbiaceae) in the southeastern United States.