Studies on Haltica carduorum Guerin (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) an Alien Beetle Released in Britain as a Contribution to the Biological Control of Creeping Thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.

Biology and Life History of Argopistes tsekooni (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in China, a Promising Biological Control Agent of Chinese Privet

“…For example, a promising biological control agent of creeping thistle (C. arvense), the ßea beetle (A. carduorum) from Europe failed to become established in Canada and United States (Peschken et al 1970, Baker et al 1972, Schaber et al 1975. Schaber et al (1975) concluded that high temperature, low humidity, and predation were the main limiting factors in South Dakota.…”

Biological control of creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense): Analysis of the releases ofAltica carduorum [Col.: Chrysomelidae] in Canada

“…On the most arid release site, at Summerland, B.C., where the temperature did not fall below the dew point on 1/2 of the nights, only 1% of 386 eggs shrivelled (PESCHKEN et aL, 1970). On the other hand, the findings of BAKER et al, (1972) indicated that low RH may have slightly prolonged the development of the eggs. Thus, low humidity contributed only inc[irectly to failure of the colonies in the continental climates of Canada and South Dakota by prolonging exposure to predators.…”

“…However, dew was not provided in their experiments and did not develop except in one with 70-100 % RH. Dew is necessary for egg development unless very high humidities are provided constantly (PESCHKEN et aL, 1970;BAKER et aL, 1972). On the most arid release site, at Summerland, B.C., where the temperature did not fall below the dew point on 1/2 of the nights, only 1% of 386 eggs shrivelled (PESCHKEN et aL, 1970).…”

“…However, low temperatures, like low humidities, protract development of eggs and larvae: at an average temperature of 18.5~ the developmental period of the eggs is 91 ~o and that of the larvae and pupae 47 longer than at 22.5~ (BAKER et al, 1972). Thus, at a lower temperature, the immature stages are exposed to predation much longer and mortality is bound to increase.…”

Weed biological control in the European Union: from serendipity to strategy

“…In 1969, small-scale caged and uncaged field studies in the UK on the leaf beetle, A. carduorum, a natural enemy of Cirsium arvense (Asteraceae) from France, effectively became the first release of a classical weed BCA in an EU Member State (Baker et al 1972). In this case the researchers set out to determine whether Altica carduorum appeared capable of establishment in Great Britain.…”