BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENCY
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENCY
2008
Field trip in Sicily (Aug 29-31, 2008)
by F. Di Cristina
The trip was carried out with the aim to collect the stem boring weevil Lixus rosenschoeldi and the root boring weevil Cosmobaris sp. on Salsola kali.Collected as well few specimens of a yellowish flea beetle (prob. Longitarsus sp.) and infested stems with the seed feeder moth Gymnancyla sp.
Field trip in Slovakia (Aug 15-18, 2008)
by F. Lecce and F. Di Cristina
The trip was carried out together with the Slovakian cooperator Peter Toth for collecting potential candidate agents on Chondrilla juncea and Salsola tragus in center/southern Slovakia. Found a stem boring Buprestid and a stem boring larva (prob. Mordellidae) on skeletonweed and a stem boring moth on Russian thistle
Field trip in Bulgaria (Aug 13-15, 2008)
by F. Lecce and F. Di Cristina
The trip was carried out together with the Bulgarian cooperators V.Harizanova and A. Stoeva for collecting the flower feeder moth Schinia cognata and the leaf feeder moth Simyra nervosa on Chondrilla juncea in the area near Plovdiv. The larvae were delivered to Jeff Littlefield, Montana State university (Bozeman, MT).
Field trip in Bulgaria (July 25-29, 2008)
by M. Guedj and F. Di Cristina
The trip was carried out together with the Bulgarian cooperators V. Harizanova and A. Stoeva for collecting the flower feeder moth Schinia cognata and the leaf feeder moth Simyra nervosa on Chondrilla juncea in the area near Plovdiv. Checked as well the open field test with the mite Aceria solstitialis on yellow starthisle and 5 other test plants.
Field trip in Sicily (Italy) (July 06-08, 2008)
by F. Lecce and F. Di Cristina
The main purpose of the trip was the collection of candidate agents on Salsola kali. Collected in 3 sites the root-boring weevil Cosmobaris sp. nr. scolopacea, and in another site the same and the root boring weevil Lixus rosenschoeldi.
Field trip in Turkey (June 19-28, 2008)
by F. Di Cristina
The trip was carried out in cooperation with M. McIvie (Montana State University, Bozeman, MT) and U. Schaffner (CABI Bioscience, Switzerland). The trip was mainly targeted to set up a field test in Kayseri with the chloropid fly Lasiosina deviata, candidate agent for perennial pepperweed. Found a large population of perennial pepperweed heavily attacked by a rust, the weevil Lixus myagri and a unknown long horn beetle. Collected a leaf-rolling moth on Russian olive, a "specific" population of Lixus sp.nr. incanescens on Salsola tragus and a large population of Larinus latus on Scotch thistle in Cappadocia. Collected other specimens of L. clathratus on saltcedar.
Field trip in Tunisia (June 03-07, 2008)
by A. Paolini and F. Lecce
Aim of this trip was the collection of Anthypurinus biimpressus, npotential biocontrol agent of Salsola tragus. The weevil wasn’t found but we collected 65 specimens of the weevil Elasmobaris sp. Some of the weevils were sent to L. Smith, while a large portion was tested at the BBCA facilities, in laboratory conditions
Field trip in Turkey (July 7-13, 2007)
by E. Colonnelli
The trip was focused on the exploration of West and Central Anatolia to check out the presence of our target weeds. Found large populations of Salsola sp. Collected adults and pupae of Lixus sp. and recorded the presence of Piesma sp., Conorynchus nigrivictis (cleonine weevil) and Cosmobaris scolopacea as mature larvae in root and soil and as adult near the crown.
Field trip in Turkey (May 27-June 05, 2008)
by F. Di Cristina and M. Barlattani
The main goal of the trip was to collect mite galls on Lepidium draba, survey Central Turkey for Russian olive and collect the root galling weevil Liocleonus clathratus on Tamarix in 2 sites. Found also a root galling weevil larva on Salsola.
Field trip in Iran (May 07-17, 2008)
by E. Gerber and F. Di Cristina
This exploration trip was conducted in cooperation with CABI Bioscience, Switzerland, investigating for 6 different target weeds: Russian knapweed, Russian thistle, Russian olive, perennial pepperweed, Scotch thistle and rush skeletonweed. Collected several specimens of Lixus myagri and Ceutorhynchus sp., two flea beetles species and on Lepidium latifolium. Found also a pathogen on the leaves. The Salsola sp. populations were too young. Collected on Russian olive a scolytid beetle, 2 long-horn stem boring beetles and the eriophyoid mite. On Russian knapweed found an eriophyioid mite, a stem boring fly, a stem galling wasp and a root-boring moth. Recorded on Scotch thistle a Larinus sp. (prob. darsi) and a tephritid seed feeder fly.
Field trip in Turkey (March 06-14, 2008)
by F. Lecce and F. Di Cristina
The main goal of the trip was the survey and collection of sites of Scotch thisle (Onopordum acanthium) in Central and Eastern Turkey. Found 3 populations of the flea beetle Psylliodes sp.nr. chalcomerus on Scotch thistle and 2 sites in Cappadocia with the root boring moth nEublemma sp. In Cappadocia also found a phytoplasma like damage on Russian olive. Finally recorded 2 new sites for the root galling weevil Liocleonus clathratus on Tamarix.
Field trip in Spain (March 05-09, 2008)
by F. Lecce and A. Paolini
Replicated the collection of the root boring weevil Trichosirocalus nbriesei on Scotch thistle in central Spain (100 km northern of Madrid). Collected the weevil as adult, egg and larval stages. The insects were used at BBCA facilities to carry out host range tests in laboratory conditions. Recorded the presence of a huge population of nRussian thistle (Salsola tragus) in the vineyards of the area.
Exploration trips 2008
Field trip in Spain (January 24-28, 2008)
by F. Lecce and F. Di Cristina
The main goal of the first trip of the year was to start the collections of the root boring weevil Trichosirocalus briesei on Scotch thistle in central Spain (100 km northern of Madrid). Collected the weevil as adult, egg and larval stages. The insects were used at BBCA facilities to carry out host range tests in laboratory conditions