Lema cyanella
| Lema cyanella | |
|---|---|
| |
| Lema cyanella 4.0–5.5 mm | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Chrysomelidae |
| Subfamily: | Criocerinae |
| Tribe: | Lemini |
| Genus: | Lema |
| Species: | L. cyanella
|
| Binomial name | |
| Lema cyanella | |
Lema cyanella, known as the californian thistle leaf beetle,[2][3] is a species of beetle in family Chrysomelidae.
Distribution
[edit]Lema cyanella is found in the Palearctic, and also in spots in Asia and Oceania. It is found in: Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Russia, Lithuania, India, Taiwan, South Korea, China, and New Zealand[3] (where it is not native).[2]
Female lay an average of 1564 eggs with Circium arvense being the main host.[4]
Biological Control agent
[edit]It was thought it might be a useful biological agent to control Circium arvense, a significant weed of wheatfields, which damages their productivity.[4] Given that the main host of Lema cyanella was Circium arvense and the evidence that no plants of economic importance were attacked, it was believed it mightbecome a useful biological control agent.[4]
In New Zealand
[edit]Lema cyanella was imported into New Zealand in 1981 as a biological control agent,[2] with parasite-free progeny being released in 1983 but failing to prosper. In 1990 they were again iimported, with mass-rearing and distribution occurring in the 1990s. Despite again failing to prosper,[2][5] they appear to have established themselves in New Zealand.[2] This was similar to the Canadian experience.[2]
References
[edit]
- ^ Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp
- ^ a b c d e f "Californian thistle leaf beetle". Manaaki Whenua. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ a b "Californian Thistle Leaf Beetle (Lema cyanella)". iNaturalist. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
- ^ a b c D.P. Peschken; G.R. Johnson (September 1979). "HOST SPECIFICITY AND SUITABILITY OF LEMA CYANELLA (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE), A CANDIDATE FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF CANADA THISTLE ( CIRSIUM ARVENSE )". The Canadian Entomologist. 111 (9): 1059–1068. doi:10.4039/ENT1111059-9. ISSN 0008-347X. Wikidata Q135628562.
- ^ Gourlay, A. Hugh. (2004) "Classical biological control of Californian thistle: the New Zealand story." Fourteenth Australian Weeds Conference: 374-377
External links
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