Project Number: 5325-22000-020-28
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Apr 01, 2007
End Date: Jun 30, 2009

Objective:
Search for arthropods in Central Asia that can be used as biological control agents of Russian Thistle, evaluate their host plant specificity, and establish field sites in California for future releases.

Approach:
We will 1) collect data on abundance of Russian thistle at 6 sites in California; 2) conduct choice oviposition experiments on Gymnancyla canella; 3) collect at least one beetle species and start host-specificity evaluations; and 4) Search for new potential biological control agents in Eurasia. Documents truyst with CDFA. 425 Log 32513.