PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH. 90(4), 1988, pp. 458-461 THE HOST SPECIFICITY AND BIOLOGY OF ARISTOTELIA IVAE BUSCK (GELECHIIDAE) AND LORITA BACCHARIVORA POGUE (TORTRICIDAE), TWO MICROLEPIDOPTERA SELECTED AS BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS FOR BACCHARIS HALIMIFOLIA rASTERACEAE) IN AUSTRALIA G. DiATLOFF AND W. A. PaLMER (GD) Alan Fletcher Research Station, Queensland Department of Lands, 27 Magazine St., Sherwood, Queensland 4075, Australia; (WAP) North American Field Station, Queensland Department of Lands, 2801 Arrowhead Circle, Temple, Texas 76502. Abstract.— Tht host specificities and biologies of two microlepidoptera, Aristotelia ivae Busck (Gelechiidae) and Lorita haccharivora Pogue (Tortricidae) were determined prior to their utilization for the biological control of the noxious weed Bacchahs halimifolia. Both species were multivoltine foliage feeders with generation times of approximately 6 weeks. Host specificity was assessed by the ovipositional preference and ability of larvae to feed on 65 plant species. Aristotelia ivae oviposited all but 2 eggs on B. halimifolia and larvae developed only on this plant. Lorita haccharivora oviposited all but two eggs on B. halimifolia and larvae also only developed on this plant. It was concluded that both species were host specific to Baccharis. Permission for their introduction into Australia was obtained. Both species were released in Australia and establishment of .-1. ivae has been confirmed. Key Words: Aristotelia, Lorita, Baccharis, biological control, host specificity Following its introduction into Queens-Two foliage feeding microlepidoptera .air-land, Australia, before 1900, the North /^/o/cZ/a /vac Busck (Gelechiidae) and Lon/a American shrub Baccharis halimifolia L. Z)acT/7ar/vora Pogue (Tortricidae) were found (Asteraceae: Astereae: Baccharineae) be-infesting B. halimifolia along the eastern came a serious weed in SE Queensland and seaboard of the United States (Palmer and NE New South Wales by invading pastures Bennett 1988). Literature reviews and and land cleared for reforestation. The plant consultations with relevant experts indicat-was declared noxious in 1951 and subse-ed that they might be host specific to Bac-quently a biological control program to find charts. Furthermore their occurrence in and introduce suitable host specific insects Florida was thought advantageous as this from the New World was implemented. This state has a climatic similarity to Queens-program consisted, in essence, of intensive-land. ly surveying appropriate areas, selecting The genus Aristotelia Huebner contains stenophagous species from available knowl-39 species none of which is considered an edge, testing the host range of these species agricultural pest (Amett 1985). Busck (1904) experimentally and, if their host range were described both the moth and larva of /4. ivae limited to Baccharis, mass rearing and re-from material collected at Palm Beach, leasing the insects in Australia. Florida and reared by H. Dyar in 1 900. Two
The host specificity and biology of Aristotella ivae Busck (Gelechiidae) and Lorita baccharivora Pogue (Tortricidae), two microlepidoptera selected as biological control agents for Baccharis halimifolia (Asteraceae) in Australia
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