Information

Agent

Rhinocyllus conicus (Frölich)

Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae

Agent Name References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.
- Cripps, M.G., A. Gassmann, S.V. Fowler, G.W. Bourdôt, A.S. McClay, and G.R. Edwards. 2011. Classical biological control of Cirsium arvense: lessons from the past. Biological Control 57: 165-174.

Weed

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.

Family: Asteraceae
Common Name: Canada thistle, creeping thistle, Californian thistle, field thistle

Origin: Eurasia

Weed Name References:
- Cripps, M.G., A. Gassmann, S.V. Fowler, G.W. Bourdôt, A.S. McClay, and G.R. Edwards. 2011. Classical biological control of Cirsium arvense: lessons from the past. Biological Control 57: 165-174.
- Piper, G.L. and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Thistles. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 345-378.

Weed Common Name References:
- Cripps, M.G., A. Gassmann, S.V. Fowler, G.W. Bourdôt, A.S. McClay, and G.R. Edwards. 2011. Classical biological control of Cirsium arvense: lessons from the past. Biological Control 57: 165-174.
- Piper, G.L. and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Thistles. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 345-378.

Weed Origin References:
- Cripps, M.G., A. Gassmann, S.V. Fowler, G.W. Bourdôt, A.S. McClay, and G.R. Edwards. 2011. Classical biological control of Cirsium arvense: lessons from the past. Biological Control 57: 165-174.

Release and Source Information

List: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Italy & rance (Rhine Valley)
Year: 1973
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: OR, WA
Subregion specific:

Release History: Spread naturally to Cirsium arvense from releases on other species in multiple states; Redistributed from Carduus nutans (Ex. France) in MT to C. arvense in OR 1981, WA 1982

Release Notes: Three strains have been collected for use against exotic thistles in the USA, originating from three host species in Europe: source Carduus nutans from France released on Ca. nutans, Ca. acanthoides, Onopordum acanthium (failed) and Silybum marianum (failed); source Ca. pycnocephalus from Italy released on Ca. pycnocephalus, Ca. tenuiflorus and O. acanthium (failed); source S. marianum from Italy released on Ca. nutans and S. marianum. The two strains collected from Ca. nutans (Ex. France) and Ca. pycnocephalus (Ex. Italy) have since been observed attacking Cirsium arvense and Ci. vulgare.

Source Information References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Piper, G.L. 1985. Biological control of weeds in Washington: status report. In E.S. Delfosse, Ed. Proceedings of the VI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 19-25 August 1984, Vancouver, Canada; Agriculture Canada. pp. 817-826.
- Piper, G.L. and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Thistles. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 345-378.
- ROBO Database. 2012. Release of beneficial organisms in the United States and Territories. USDA ARS. www.ars-grin.gov/nigrp/robo.html. 10 September 2012.

Original Host Species

Carduus nutans L. (Ex. France), Carduus pycnocephalus L. (Ex. Italy)

Original Host Species References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: CO, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.

Abundance

High

Abundance References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Andreas, J.E., J. Milan, C. Randall, and J. Price. 2020. Biological Control. In E. Peachey, Ed. Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. A1-A7.

Agent Impact

Impact: Slight
Geographic Scale of impact: Widespread throughout range
Impact Notes: Affects seed production potential which is unlikely to impact Cirsium arvense since established plants/infestations reproduce mainly by vegetative means.

Impact References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.
- Coombs, E.M. 2012. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report 2012. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 35 pp.
- Cripps, M.G., A. Gassmann, S.V. Fowler, G.W. Bourdôt, A.S. McClay, and G.R. Edwards. 2011. Classical biological control of Cirsium arvense: lessons from the past. Biological Control 57: 165-174.
- Piper, G.L. and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Thistles. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 345-378.

Limiting Factors

None

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: Yes
Other Species Attacked Notes: Attacks 22 of 90 Cirsium spp. native to the USA. Interstate shipment permits revoked in 2000, and not recommended for redistribution within each state.

Non-Target References:
- Pemberton, R.W. 2000. Predictable risk to native plants in weed biological control. Oecologia 125(4): 489-494.

Research Organizations

Oregon State Department of Agriculture, Salem (State (15))

Notes

Interstate shipment permits revoked in 2000, and not recommended for redistribution within each state.

Notes References:
- Pemberton, R.W. 2000. Predictable risk to native plants in weed biological control. Oecologia 125(4): 489-494.