Project Number: 5325-22000-020-34
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Oct 01, 2007
End Date: Sep 30, 2009

Objective:
1. Multiply Ceratapion basicorne for field releases. 2. Conduct field experiments on biological control of yellow starthistle at Fort Hunter Liggett.

Approach:
We will multiply our colony of the yellow starthistle rosette weevil, Ceratapion basicorne, during fall of 2007, to provide adults that are ready for release in the spring. This involves rearing about 2000 yellow starthistle plants, maintaining a colony of adult insects, obtaining eggs from females, transferring neonate larvae to infest each plant, rearing the insects inside plants for a month, collecting emerging adults, and holding them for at least 4 months under cold dark conditions to complete diapause, so they will be ready to lay eggs. Application for a release permit is currently being processed by USDA-APHIS. Contingent on obtaining the release permit, we will conduct experimental releases of this insect at Fort Hunter Liggett, CA. We will also establish long-term study sites to monitor the impact of the insects on yellow starthistle.