Larinus filiformis

Larinus filiformis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Curculionidae
Subfamily:	Lixinae
Genus:	Larinus
Species:	L. filiformis
Binomial name
	Larinus filiformis; Petri, 1907

Larinus filiformis is a species of true weevil found in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Bulgaria.[1]

The weevil's main host plant in its native range is yellow starthistle Centaurea solstitialis. For this reason, there is interest in determining whether L. filiformis would be a good candidate for classical biological control of the noxious weed. In the field, this weevil has only been reported on yellow starthistle.

Life history

L. filiformis is univoltine in Turkey. Females lay eggs on the flowerheads, and larvae undergo development inside the flower heads. Adults emerge in spring when the temperature reaches about 20 °C (68 °F).[1]

It is most common at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,400 metres (3,300 to 4,600 ft) in Turkey.

Parasitism

L. filiformis is parasitized by: Bracon urinator (F.), Bracon tshitsherini Kok. (Braconidae), Exeristes roborator Fab. (Ichneumonidae), Aprostocetus sp. (Eulophidae), and unidentified species of Eurytomidae and Ormyridae.[1]

References

L. Gultekin; M. Cristofaro; C. Tronci; L. Smith (2008). "Natural History Studies for the Preliminary Evaluation of Larinus filiformis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a Prospective Biological Control Agent of Yellow Starthistle" (PDF). Environ. Entomol. 37(5): 1185-1199. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-12-18.

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[Gultekin-1] L. Gultekin; M. Cristofaro; C. Tronci; L. Smith (2008). "Natural History Studies for the Preliminary Evaluation of Larinus filiformis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a Prospective Biological Control Agent of Yellow Starthistle" (PDF). Environ. Entomol. 37(5): 1185-1199. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2009-12-18.