The City of Edmonton has been involved in weed biocontrol over the past several decades.
Certain insects are released against weeds as part of our management strategy. Some of the different weed feeding insects that have been introduced to the Edmonton area are summarized below:
|
Weed Biocontrol Agent (Insect) |
Description |
Weed Host Species |
|---|---|---|
| Aphthona nigriscutis & A. lacertosa | leaf feeding beetles | leafy spurge |
| Eteobalea serratella | root feeding caterpillar | yellow toadflax |
| Galerucella calmariensis & G. pusilla | leaf feeding beetles | purple loosestrife |
| Hyles euphorbia | leaf feeding caterpillar | leafy spurge |
| Larinus planus | seed feeding weevil | Canada thistle |
| Lema cyanella | leaf feeding beetle | Canada thistle |
| Mecinus janthinus | stem boring weevil | yellow toadflax |
| Microplontus edentulus | stem boring weevil | scentless chamomile |
| Minoa murinata | leaf feeding caterpillar | leafy spurge |
| Omphalapion hookeri | seed feeding weevil | scentless chamomile |
| Rhopalomyia sp. | gall midge | scentless chamomile |
| Urophora cardui | stem gall fly | Canada thistle |
Leaf feeding beetle adult and eggs (Galerucella sp.) on purple loosestrife
