Additional investigation of Schinia cognata Fr. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) as a potential bioagent for control of Chondrilla juncea L. (Asteraceae)

• Published in: Acta Herbologica (Serbia) Vol. 17; no. 2
• Main Authors: Lecheva, I., Agricultural University, Plovdiv (Bulgaria), Karova, A., Agricultural University, Plovdiv (Bulgaria)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: AGENT DE LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; AGENTES DE CONTROL BIOLOGICO; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL; BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS; CHONDRILLA JUNCEA; CONTROL BIOLOGICO; CROPS; CULTIVOS; DESHERBAGE; ESCARDA; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_12842; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1972; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24736; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8345; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_918; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_920; LUTTE BIOLOGIQUE; NOCTUIDAE; PLANTE DE CULTURE; WEED CONTROL
• ISSN: 0354-4311

Chondrilla juncea L. is a tap rooted perennial plant accidentally introduced in th the United States from Europe in the 1870s which has turned into a serious invader of pastures and crop lands. A lack of its natural enemies was one of the main reasons for its fast distribution in Australia and the USA. As Ch. juncea L. origins from the Balkans, investigation of natural enemies of the weed was conducted in Bulgarian in 2000-2007. Among all recovered insects, the moth Schinia cognata Fr. (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was considered as the most promising candidate for bioagent to control Ch. juncea L. This paper focuses on studies of its population dynamics and host testing. The moth develops two generations per year and the feeding of its larvae is restrited to Ch. juncea.