Biology and Biological Control of Knapweed

USDA Forest Service FHTET-2001-07. 2nd Edition.

Contents

• Introduction

• Chapter 1: Getting to Know Knapweeds

  • Plant Development
  • Key to the Knapweed Species (Adapted from Roché and Roché 1993)
  • Spotted Knapweed
  • Diffuse Knapweed
  • Squarrose Knapweed
  • Meadow Knapweed
  • Black Knapweed
  • Brown Knapweed

• Chapter 2: Biology of Knapweed Biocontrol Agents

  • Basic Insect Biology
  • Insects and Knapweed
  • Identifying Insects
  • Seedhead Feeders
    • Urophora affinis
    • Urophora quadrifasciata
    • Terellia virens
    • Chaetorellia acrolophi
    • Metzneria paucipunctella
    • Larinus minutus
    • Larinus obtusus
    • Bangasternus fausti
  • Root Borers
    • Agapeta zoegana
    • Pterolonche inspersa
    • Pelochrista medullana
    • Cyphocleonus achates
    • Sphenoptera jugoslavica

• Chapter 3: Elements of a Knapweed Biological Control Program

  • 1. Selecting and Preparing Release Sites
  • 2. Collecting Biocontrol Agents
  • 3. Handling Biocontrol Agents
  • 4. Releasing Biocontrol Agents
  • 5. Monitoring

• Selected References

• Glossary

• Appendices

  • Appendix A: Troubleshooting Guide; When Things go Wrong
  • Appendix B: Biological Control Agent Release Form
  • Appendix C: Monitoring Plan Questionnaire
  • Appendix D: Biological Control Monitoring Report
  • Appendix E: Qualitative Monitoring Form
  • Appendix F: Quadrat Density and Cover Data Form
  • Appendix G: Macroplot Design for Measuring Density

Acknowledgments

We thank Christina Kuykendall, Jim Story, Sandy Kegley, and Nancy Sturdevant for their contributions to this manual: Cindy Roché for contributing photographs and drawings; and Mark Riffe and Chuck Benedict of INTECS/Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, USDA Forest Service, Fort Collins, Colorado, for editing, layout and graphics. We also thank J. McCaffrey, and J. Johnson for reviewing this manual. We would also like to thank Richard Reardon of the Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, USDA Forest Service, Morgantown, West Virginia, for providing the funds needed to complete and publish this manual.

All photographs in this publication can be accessed and viewed on line. You’ll find reference codes (UGA 0000000) in the captions for the figures in this publication. Point your browser at http://www.forestryimages.org, and enter the reference code at the search prompt.

Sources of Figures

The Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team (FHTET) was created in 1995 by the Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry, USDA, Forest Service, to develop and deliver technologies to protect and improve the health of American forests. This book was published by FHTET as part of the technology transfer series.

http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/technology/

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