Parthenium Biological Control Agents

Smicronyx lutulentus (seed feeding weevil)

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Actual size 2mm

Adults feed on flower buds

Adults emerge
  • from Mexico
  • summer feeding weevil
  • adult emergence from soil is triggered by rainfail
lay eggs in flower beds

Seeds drop off the plant and larvae burrow into the soil to pupate
Actual Size 2mm across seed head

larvae feeds in seeds (1 larvae/seed) and eat the contents