External rostral characters for differentiation of sexes in the biological control agent Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Marjolein Schat; Sharlene E. Sing; Robert K. D. Peterson

Treesearch

External rostral characters for differentiation of sexes in the biological control agent Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Marjolein Schat, Sharlene E. Sing, Robert K. D. Peterson

Year:

2007

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Canadian Entomologist. 139: 354-357.

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Abstract

The stem-boring weevil, Mecinus janthinus (Germar), is a promising, well established classical biological control agent for the exotic invasive weed Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica (L.) Mill.) (Scrophulariaceae). In this paper we present readily apparent rostral characters that can be used for sex differentiation of live stem-boring weevils at low magnification. These characters can be used by workers with little training to accurately sex weevils and can be used to rapidly determine sex ratios of field populations to improve timing of collection for redistribution.

Keywords

stem-boring weevil, Mecinus janthinus, exotic invasive, Dalmatian toadflax, Linaria dalmatica

Citation

Schat, Marjolein; Sing, Sharlene E.; Peterson, Robert K. D. 2007. External rostral characters for differentiation of sexes in the biological control agent Mecinus janthinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Canadian Entomologist. 139: 354-357.