- Agapeta zoegana
Taxobox
name = "Agapeta zoegana"
image_width = 250px
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Arthropod a
classis =Insect a
ordo =Lepidoptera
familia =Cochylidae
genus = "Agapeta "
species = "A. zoegana"
binomial = "Agapeta zoegana"
binomial_authority = L."Agapeta zoegana" is a species of
moth known as the sulphur knapweed moth and the yellow-winged knapweed root moth. It is used as an agent ofbiological pest control against noxious knapweeds, particularly spotted knapweed ("Centaurea maculosa") anddiffuse knapweed ("Centaurea diffusa").The adult moth is bright
yellow with areas of brown on its wings. It is about 11 millimeters long. The adult lives for only a few days, during which time the female lays eggs on stems and leaves. Thelarva , a root miner, moves to the root of the plant and tunnels through the cortex as it feeds. This causes moderate damage to the plant.This moth is native to Eurasia. It was introduced to the western and west-central
United States starting in the 1980s and it is now established inknapweed populations. It reduces the spread of the plants in areas where mechanical and chemical control is not practical. It lives on spotted and diffuse knapweed and has not been found to damage other plants.Flight is from May to August from dusk, and is attracted to light.
External links
* [http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/weedfeeders/agapeta.html Cornell Biocontrol Profile]
References
*Coombs, E. M., et al., Eds. (2004). "Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States". Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 207.
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