Abstract
The biology of the rhizophagous clearwing moth Chamaesphecia mysiniformis Rambur and its specificity to Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) (horehound), a serious introduced weed in southern Australia, were studied in France. Adults emerged in late spring during the morning and began mating on the same day, usually in the mid to late afternoon. Eggs were laid among flower clusters, with females laying an average of 96 2.41 (range, 1-268) with an overall hatch success of 79%. In no-choice, host-specificity tests, first instar larvae attacked only four species of Marrubium, along with Ballota nigra L. and Stachys arvensis L. This high level of specificity and the high mortality of the target plant in its native range make this moth a promising biological control agent of horehound in Australia.
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