02366nas a2200193   4500008004500000020001400045245017300059210006900232260001200301300001400313490000700327520161400334653002301948100001801971700001901989700001502008700001402023856013502037       2008                        Engldsh    a0046-225X00aNatural history studies for the preliminary evaluation of Larinus filiformis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a prospective biological control agent of yellow starthistle0 aNatural history studies for the preliminary evaluation of Larinu  cOctober  a1185-11990 v373 aWe studied the life history, geographic distribution, behavior, and ecology of Larinus filiformis Petri (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in its native range to determine whether it is worthy of further evaluation as a classical biological control agent of yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis (Asteraceae: Cardueae). Larinus filiformis occurs in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Bulgaria and has been reared only from C. solstitialis. At field sites in central and eastern Turkey, adults were well synchronized with the plant, being active from mid-May to late July and ovipositing in capitula (flowerheads) of C. solstitialis from mid-June to mid-July. Larvae destroy all the seeds in a capitulum. The insect is univoltine in Turkey, and adults hibernate from mid-September to mid-May. In the spring, before adults begin ovipositing, they feed on the immature flower buds of C. solstitialis, causing them to die. The weevil destroyed 25-75% of capitula at natural field sites, depending on the sample date. Preliminary host specificity experiments on adult feeding indicate that the weevil seems to be restricted to a relatively small number of plants within the Cardueae. Approximately 57% of larvae or pupae collected late in the summer were parasitized by hymenopterans (Bracon urinator, B. tshitsherini (Braconidae) and Exeristes roborator (Ichneumonidae), Aprostocetus sp. (Eulophidae), and unidentified species of Eurytomidae and Ormyridae). This weevil may be a better choice than the other capitula insects already established in the United States, particularly in colder parts of the plant's range.10aLarinus filiformis1 aGültekin, L.1 aCristofaro, M.1 aTronci, C.1 aSmith, L.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/natural-history-studies-preliminary-evaluation-larinus-filiformis-coleoptera-curculionidae-prospecti02121nas a2200205   4500008004100000020001400041245011900055210006900174260001200243300001200255490000700267520140900274100001701683700001601700700001601716700001501732700001901747700001401766856013501780       2009                        eng d  a1049-964400aUsing molecular genetics to identify immature specimens of the weevil Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae)0 aUsing molecular genetics to identify immature specimens of the w  cOctober  a152-1570 v513 aMolecular analyses can play a primary role in the process of host specificity evaluation at species and population levels. Here we present an example of their application with a promising candidate biological control agent for yellow starthistle, Centaurea solstitialis L. Although it is highly host specific, Ceratapion basicorne (Coleoptera: Apionidae) can develop on safflower in laboratory tests. A field experiment was conducted to further evaluate host plant specificity; however, it was not possible to rear all larvae to the adult stage, which was necessary for species determination. Therefore molecular genetic methods were used to identify immature specimens. A 731 bp fragment of mtDNA cytochrome C oxidase I gene (COI) was sequenced from 41 individuals of C. basicorne and four congeners: Ceratapion orientale, Ceratapion onopordi, Ceratapion penetrans and Ceratapion scalptum. Intraspecific variability ranged from 0.0% to 0.2%, and interspecific divergences ranged from 1.7% to 17.6%. All larvae that were sequenced from the field study, clearly matched one of the five species, enabling us to unambiguously identify them. Use of molecular genetics to identify larvae should also help the process of foreign exploration, enabling the identification of field-collected larvae, which often provide more reliable host plant associations than field collected adults. Published by Elsevier Inc.1 aAntonini, G.1 aColetti, G.1 aSerrani, L.1 aTronci, C.1 aCristofaro, M.1 aSmith, L.  uhttps://weevil.myspecies.info/using-molecular-genetics-identify-immature-specimens-weevil-ceratapion-basicorne-coleoptera-apionida