Host preference of Bruchidius fulvus Allard. (Col., Bruchidae), a biological control agent of camelthorn, on some plant species from Fabaceae

Subject Areas : entomology and othea arthropods

A. Esmaili ¹ (Lecturer, Student of Weed Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Iran)
S. Moodi ² (Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Iran)
M. Alichi ³ (Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Shiraz University, Iran)
M. R. Tareghyan ⁴ (Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Birjand University, Iran)

Received: 2010-10-25 Accepted : 2011-04-12 Published : 2011-02-20

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Abstract :

Bruchidius fulvus Allard. is a biological control agent of camelthorn weed (Alhagi camelorum Fisch.) in Birjand region, South Khorasan province, Iran. The beetle has been able to reduce seed production and consequently prevented more spread of this noxious weed in the region. In order to use the beetle to control the weed, the host preference of B. fulvus was studied under laboratory condition (25±1˚C, 65±5% R.H and darkness). The experiments was carried out in completely randomized design with 10 replications using the seeds of camelthorn and 6 other plant species from Fabaceae family including Phaseolus vulgaris L., Cicer arientinum L., Lathyrus sativus L., Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Sophora alopecuroides L. and Vicia villosa Roth. Results showed that the most number of eggs was respectively laid on A. camelorum, Ph. vulgaris, C. arietinum, L. sativus and V. villosa seeds. However, the larvae on plant species other than the camelthorn did not survive. It seems that B. fulvus is a monophagous species and can be used as a seed feeder agent of camel thorn in the region. However, further studies are essential to find out whether it is a specialist or not.