Trichosirocalus horridus

Trichosirocalus horridus is a species of true weevils, native to Europe. It is a biological pest control agent that was introduced into the United States in 1974 to control exotic thistles, especially in the Cirsium and Carduus genera.[2][3]

Trichosirocalus horridus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Curculionidae
Subfamily:	Baridinae
Tribe:	Ceutorhynchini
Genus:	Trichosirocalus
Species:	T. horridus
Binomial name
Trichosirocalus horridus (Panzer, 1801) [1]

Life history

T. horridus feeds on the rosettes of thistles, with the larvae causing most damage to the plant.

Nontarget impacts

In 2004, T. horridus was observed feeding on the native thistle Cirsium altissimum L. in Nebraska.[4] The weevil was observed on the native thistle at about the same rate as the targeted invasive thistle (Cirsium vulgare).[4] T. horridus has also been observed feeding on 5 native Cirsium species in Tennessee.[5]

References

1. "Trichosirocalus horridus". Integrated Taxonomic Information System.
2. "Ward, R. H., R. L. Pienkowski, and L. T. Kok. 1 December 1974. Host Specificity of the First-Instar of Ceuthorhynchidius horridus a Weevil for Biological Control of Thistles. Journal of Economic Entomology. 67: 735-737". doi:10.1093/jee/67.6.735.
3. "Kok, L. T. 1975. Host specificity studies on Ceuthorhynchidius horridus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) for the biocontrol of Musk and Plumeless thistles. Weed Res. 15: 21-25". doi:10.1111/j.1365-3180.1975.tb01091.x.
4. Masaru Takahashi; Svata M. Louda; Tom E. X. Miller & Charles W. O’Briens. "Occurrence of Trichosirocalus horridus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Native Cirsium altissimum Versus Exotic C. vulgare in North American Tallgrass Prairie" (PDF). Environ. Entomol. 38(3): 731-740 (2009). doi:10.1603/022.038.0325.
5. Gregory J. Wiggins; Jerome F. Grant; Paris L. Lambdin; Jack W. Ranney; John B. Wilkerson. "First documentation of adult Trichosirocalus horridus on several non-target native Cirsium species in Tennessee". Biocontrol Science and Technology, Volume 19, Issue 9 October 2009 , pages 993 - 998. doi:10.1080/09583150903191343. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

Further reading

• Coombs, E. M., et al., Eds. (2004). Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 365. ISBN 978-0870710292.