Biology of Bucculatrix parthenica Bradley sp. n. (Lepidoptera: Bucculatricidae) and its establishment in Australia as a biological control agent for Parthenium hysterophorus (Asteraceae)

摘要: Bucculatrix parthenica Bradley sp. n., a moth native to Mexico, is described. It has been released and established in Queensland, Australia, as biological control agent for its host plant, Parthenium hysterophorus. The oviposits on leaves of host. First second instar larvae are leaf miners, later instars feed externally the leaves. life cycle occupies about 25 days under field conditions. B. was narrowly oligophagous hostspecificity tests. In Mexico insect scarce but Queensland it become abundant enough cause extensive defoliation plant at some sites. Its rapid increase attributed absence parasitism.