Information

Agent

Sphenoptera jugoslavica Obenberger

Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Buprestidae

Agent Name References:
- Piper, G.L. and S.S. Rosenthal. 1995. Diffuse knapweed. 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. 237-241.
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.

Weed

Centaurea diffusa Lam.

Family: Asteraceae
Common Name: diffuse knapweed

Origin: Eurasia

Weed Name References:
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. 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. 196-232.

Weed Common Name References:
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. 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. 196-232.

Weed Origin References:
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. 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. 196-232.

Release and Source Information

List: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Greece
Year: 1980
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE, NV, OR, SD, UT, WA, WY
Subregion specific:

Release History: CA 1980, MT 1983, WA OR 1980 1983-1985, ID 1980 1984-1985; Redistributed within OR 1985, OR to ID WA 1985, from unknown source to CO early 1990s and 1997-1999, from unknown source to AZ NE NV UT WY post 1993, from OR and WA to other western states post 1987; Additional releases in ID MT OR WA post 1987 may have been sourced from BC Canada, but subsequently not differentiated in the literature

Release Notes: Initially introduced onto Centaurea diffusa in 1980. Spread naturally and artificially to C. stoebe subsp. micranthos by 1987. Redistributed to C.×moncktonii in 1998 and C. virgata subsp. squarrosa in 1996.

Source Information References:
- Baker, L. 1997. (personal communication) Fremont County Weed and Pest, Lander, Wyoming, United States of America.
- 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 S.S. Rosenthal. 1995. Diffuse knapweed. 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. 237-241.
- 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.
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- 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.
- Lang, R.F., G.L. Piper, and E.. Coombs. 1998. Establishment and redistribution of Sphenoptera jugoslavica Obenberger (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) for biological control of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lamarck) in the Midwestern and Western United States. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 74(1): 27–31.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: CA, CO, ID, MO, MT, NV, OR, SD, UT, 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.
- Joley, D.B. and D.M. Woods. 1997. Biological control of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 1996 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Sacramento, California. pp. 35.
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. 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. 196-232.
- Lang, R.F., G.L. Piper, and E.. Coombs. 1998. Establishment and redistribution of Sphenoptera jugoslavica Obenberger (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) for biological control of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lamarck) in the Midwestern and Western United States. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 74(1): 27–31.

Abundance

Variable

Abundance References:
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Jacobs, J. and S. Sing. 2008. Ecology and management of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.). Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-20. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. 12 pp.
- Joley, D.B. and D.M. Woods. 1997. Biological control of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 1996 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Sacramento, California. pp. 35.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. 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. 196-232.

Agent Impact

Impact: Medium
Geographic Scale of impact: Widespread throughout range
Impact Notes: Widespread in CA, CO, ID, MT, OR, and WA but limited in NV, UT, WY and elsewhere. Causes some reductions in plant density and seed output, especially among competing vegetation. Does best at hot, dry sites.

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. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Jacobs, J. and S. Sing. 2008. Ecology and management of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa Lam.). Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-20. United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service. 12 pp.
- Joley, D.B. and D.M. Woods. 1997. Biological control of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa. In D.M. Woods, Ed. Biological Control Program 1996 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry, Sacramento, California. pp. 35.
- Piper, G.L. and S.S. Rosenthal. 1995. Diffuse knapweed. 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. 237-241.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. 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. 196-232.
- 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.
- Pitcairn, M.J. 2018. Weed biological control in California, USA: review of the past and prospects for the future. BioControl 63: 349–359.

Limiting Factors

Climate

Other Attack

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

Research Organizations

California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento (State (14))
Oregon State Department of Agriculture, Salem (State (15))
University of Idaho (State (6))
Montana State University (State (7))
Washington State University (State (9))
Bozeman, Montana (USDA (10))
Davis, California (USDA (14))
Albany, California (USDA (7))
United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)

Notes