Pheromones: chemical scent signals

Aphthona Photos

Aphthona Collection

Leafy spurge flea beetle collection

Leafy spurge flea beetle collection

Flea Beetle “Bomb Shell” Effect -flea beetles release attractant pheromone -stay together and spread outwards from initial release site causing larger area of damage each year.

Before And After Photos

Oberea – spurge root boring beetle adults: late May – July rapidly disperse by flying lay eggs on large spurge stems larvae bore down stem to root over winter in root as larvae pupate early spring nice combo w/ flea beetles sweep net hand pick from net.

Oberea Collections

Mecinus janthinus – toadflax stem boring weevil -Too new, not available from us yet -ask County and/or purchase.

Release Site Location Use newspaper articles,phone calls and word of mouth to find suitable sites Have list of potential release sites and landowners Weed present Must fit the insects ecological needs Must fit land owners needs Fit w/in spacing of your plan Guaranteed undisturbed for 5, preferably 10 years Contiguous to other weed patches so bioagent can spread Easy to access for monitoring and future collections Will not flood.

Store and Transport Store insects in refrigerator or cooler with ice pack. KEEP FROM FREEZING! Transport in cooler with ice pack separated from insect container by paper/packing material Moths: last 1-3 days Beetles tougher!: last 3-7 days.