Information

Agent

Urophora cardui (Linnaeus)

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Tephritidae

Agent 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 L.A. Andres. 1995. Canada thistle. In J.R. Nechols, L.A. Andres, J.W. Beardsley, R.D. Goeden, and C.G. Jackson, Eds. Biological Control in the Western United States: Accomplishments and Benefits of Regional Research Project W-84, 1964-1989. Publication 3361. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, California. pp. 233-236.

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. Austria & France
Year: 1977
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: CA, CO, IA, ID, MD, MI, MT, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY
Subregion specific:

Release History: Ex. Austria: IA 1982 1985, ID 1983-1984, MT NV 1982, CA 1977 1982-1984, MD OR WY 1982-1984, CO WA 1982-1983; Ex. France: CA ID MD MT OR 1981; Source not specified: MT 1978-1982, OR 1980, SD 1984-1987, Redistributed to UT 1990, MT to MI 2015

Release Notes: Insects were sourced both from Europe and from Canada via Europe. Redistributions ongoing at some locations.

Source Information References:
- Brusven, P. 2013. (personal communication) Nez Perce Biocontrol Center, P.O. Box 365, Lapwai, Idaho 834540, USA.
- 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.
- McClay, A.S. 2002. Canada Thistle. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 217-228.
- 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 L.A. Andres. 1995. Canada thistle. In J.R. Nechols, L.A. Andres, J.W. Beardsley, R.D. Goeden, and C.G. Jackson, Eds. Biological Control in the Western United States: Accomplishments and Benefits of Regional Research Project W-84, 1964-1989. Publication 3361. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, California. pp. 233-236.
- 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.
- Story, J.M. 1985. Status of biological weed control in Montana. 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. 837-842.
- Ajala, O. 2016. Factors influencing ramete selection by Urophora cardui (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and the impacts of infestation. Thesis, Master of Science. Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA. 46 pp.

Original Host Species

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.

Original Host Species References:
- 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.

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: CA, CO, ID, MI, MT, NY, NV, OR, WA, WY
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- McClay, A.S. 2002. Canada Thistle. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 217-228.
- Piper, G.L. and L.A. Andres. 1995. Canada thistle. In J.R. Nechols, L.A. Andres, J.W. Beardsley, R.D. Goeden, and C.G. Jackson, Eds. Biological Control in the Western United States: Accomplishments and Benefits of Regional Research Project W-84, 1964-1989. Publication 3361. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, California. pp. 233-236.
- 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.
- Ajala, O. 2016. Factors influencing ramete selection by Urophora cardui (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and the impacts of infestation. Thesis, Master of Science. Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA. 46 pp.

Abundance

Moderate

Abundance 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.
- Markin, G.P. and D. Larson. 2013. Effective landscape scale management of Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) utilizing biological control. In Y. Wu, T. Johnson, S. Sing, S. Raghu, G. Wheeler, P. Pratt, K. Warner, T. Center, J. Goolsby, and R. Reardon, Eds. Proceedings of the XIII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 11-16 September 2011, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA; Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, WV, USA. pp. 423-428.
- Piper, G.L. and L.A. Andres. 1995. Canada thistle. In J.R. Nechols, L.A. Andres, J.W. Beardsley, R.D. Goeden, and C.G. Jackson, Eds. Biological Control in the Western United States: Accomplishments and Benefits of Regional Research Project W-84, 1964-1989. Publication 3361. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, California. pp. 233-236.
- 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.
- Price, J., A. Weed, J. Milan, and M. Schwarzländer. 2019. Post-release assessment of classical biological control of Cirsium arvense in the Western United States. In: H.L. Hinz et al., Eds. Proceedings of the XV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 26–31 August 2018, Engelberg, Switzerland. pp. 258. https://www.ibiocontrol.org/proceedings/.

Agent Impact

Impact: Slight
Geographic Scale of impact: Widespread throughout range
Impact Notes: Attacked plants may be stunted and produce fewer seeds, especially when galls occur at terminal growing tips. However overall impact largely limited. Often restricted to shaded infestations, close to riparian areas.  Larvae in galls preyed on by birds, rodents, ants, and unidentified mite.

Impact References:
- 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.
- Markin, G.P. and D. Larson. 2013. Effective landscape scale management of Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) utilizing biological control. In Y. Wu, T. Johnson, S. Sing, S. Raghu, G. Wheeler, P. Pratt, K. Warner, T. Center, J. Goolsby, and R. Reardon, Eds. Proceedings of the XIII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 11-16 September 2011, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA; Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, WV, USA. pp. 423-428.
- McClay, A.S. 2002. Canada Thistle. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 217-228.
- Piper, G.L. and L.A. Andres. 1995. Canada thistle. In J.R. Nechols, L.A. Andres, J.W. Beardsley, R.D. Goeden, and C.G. Jackson, Eds. Biological Control in the Western United States: Accomplishments and Benefits of Regional Research Project W-84, 1964-1989. Publication 3361. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, California. pp. 233-236.
- 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.
- Price, J., A. Weed, J. Milan, and M. Schwarzländer. 2019. Post-release assessment of classical biological control of Cirsium arvense in the Western United States. In: H.L. Hinz et al., Eds. Proceedings of the XV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 26–31 August 2018, Engelberg, Switzerland. pp. 258. https://www.ibiocontrol.org/proceedings/.

Limiting Factors

Habitat; Predation

Limiting Factors 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.

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: No
Other Species Attacked Notes:

Research Organizations

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (State (1))
University of Wyoming, Laramie (State (13))
California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento (State (14))
Oregon State Department of Agriculture, Salem (State (15))
Utah State University, Logan (State (21))
University of Idaho (State (6))
Montana State University (State (7))
Washington State University (State (9))
Beltsville, Maryland (USDA (1))
Bozeman, Montana (USDA (10))
Albany, California (USDA (7))

Notes