Biological control of leafy spurge

Authors: West, Natalie; Gaskin, John

Submitted to: Contributions of Classical Biocontrol to the U.S. Food Security, Forestry, and Biodiversity, 1985-2022
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/12/2022
Publication Date: 6/20/2022
Citation: West, N.M., Gaskin, J.F. 2022. Biological control of leafy spurge. In: Van Drieshe, R. G., Winston, R.L., Lopez, T.M., editors. Contributions of Classical Biocontrol to the U.S. Food Security, Forestry, and Biodiversity, 1985-2022. Morgantown, WV: FHAAST. p.266-281.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Leafy spurge, Euphorbia virgata (Euphorbiaceae), is a persistent and expensive management problem that costs U.S. agriculture millions of dollars annually in reduced rangeland productivity and revenue. Chemical control is often only marginally successful, and the repeated applications required carry high economic and ecological costs. In the 1960s, the aggressive spread of leafy spurge led to concerted efforts to develop a biological control program against leafy spurge. Because the weed reproduces both by clonal sprouting and substantial seed production, a long-term, low-input control method was required to impose consistent pressure on the plant and reduce leafy spurge populations to acceptable levels. Today, widespread establishment and biocontrol management with Aphthona species of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a critical component of integrated leafy spurge control across large areas of the western United States.