Biological Control of Alfalfa Weevil in North America

Abstract

Alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhall) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is of Eurasian origin. This destructive pest of alfalfa (lucerne) was accidentally established in North America on three separate occasions. These introductions are commonly identified in the literature as biological strains: western alfalfa weevil, Egyptian alfalfa weevil (=Hypera brunneipennis Boheman), and eastern alfalfa weevil. Alfalfa weevil has been the target of classical biological control almost since its discovery in North America more than 90 years ago. These efforts have resulted in establishment of at least nine exotic parasitoids and egg predators: Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson), B. anurus (Thomson) and B. stenostigma (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae); Microctonus aethiopoides Loan and M. colesi Drea (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), the latter of undetermined origin; Oomyzus incertus (Ratzenberg) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae); Dibrachoides dynastes (Forester) and Peridesmia discus (Walker) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae); and Anaphes luna (Girault) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae). A fungal pathogen, Zoophthora phytonomi Arthur (Phycomycetes: Entomophthoraceae), of undetermined origin, is becoming an increasingly important alfalfa weevil mortality factor. Most major USA alfalfa production areas now benefit from a complex of alfalfa weevil biological control agents. Collectively, these agents have effected substantial reduction in the economic importance of alfalfa weevil across the northern USA However, biological agents provide only partial control of alfalfa weevil, and importance of their contribution differs considerably with production area. Still, the benefits achieved, especially from reduced need for insecticides in alfalfa production, mark this as one of the great success stories of classical biological control in North America.