Information

Agent

Cassida rubiginosa O.F.Müller

Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae

Agent Name References:
- Biondi, M. 2013. (personal communication) Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, University of L'Aquila, 67100 Coppito-L'Aquila, Italia.
- McClay, A.S., R.S. Bourchier, R.A. Butts, and D.P. Peschken. 2002. Cirsium arvense (L.) Scopoli, Canada thistle (Asteraceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 318-330.
- Ward, R.H. and R.L. Pienkowski. 1978. Biology of Cassida rubiginosa, a thistle-feeding shield beetle. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 71: 585-591.

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: 3 - Previously Used or Potential Agents Found in Exotic Ranges where their Deliberate Release is not Recorded

Year First Recorded: 1900s
Region: North America
Country Found: United States of America
Subregion of Country:
Subregion specific:

Source: Ex. Unknown
Deliberate Redistribution?: Yes
Year Redistributed: 1973
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: SD, VA, WY
Subregion specific:

Release History: Redistributed within VA 1973, to SD WY 1994, WA year unknown, likely many other locations

Release Notes: Mode of entry unknown; native to Eurasia. First identified in Canada in 1901. Year of first entry into the USA unknown, though likely in early 1900s.

Source Information References:
- Andreas, J.E. 2013. (personal communication) Washington State University Extension, Integrated Weed Control Project, Puyallup Research Center, 2606 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371 USA.
- Ang, B.N., L.T. Kok, G.I. Holtzman, and D.D. Wolf. 1995. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) response to density of Cassida rubiginosa Muller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and plant competition. Biological Control 5: 31-38.
- 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.
- Kok, L.T. 1989. Biological control of weeds in Virginia from 1969-1986. In E.S. Delfosse, Ed. Proceedings of the VII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 6-11 March 1988, Rome, Italy; Istituto Sperimentale per la Patologia Vegetale. pp. 623-629.
- Littlefield, J.L. 1997. (personal communication) Dept. Land Resources & Environmental Sciences Montana State University PO Box 173120 Bozeman, Montana 59717-3120, 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.
- Ward, R.H. and R.L. Pienkowski. 1978. Biology of Cassida rubiginosa, a thistle-feeding shield beetle. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 71: 585-591.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: DE, MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, SD, VA, WA, WV, WY
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment 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.
- Denke, P., K.P. Puliafico, and I. Foley. 2009. Montana Department of Agriculture Cooperative Pest Survey Report 2009. 63 pp.
- Littlefield, J.L. 1997. (personal communication) Dept. Land Resources & Environmental Sciences Montana State University PO Box 173120 Bozeman, Montana 59717-3120, 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.
- Ward, R.H. and R.L. Pienkowski. 1978. Biology of Cassida rubiginosa, a thistle-feeding shield beetle. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 71: 585-591.

Abundance

Variable

Abundance References:
- Andreas, J.E. 2013. (personal communication) Washington State University Extension, Integrated Weed Control Project, Puyallup Research Center, 2606 W Pioneer, Puyallup, WA 98371 USA.
- Ang, B.N., L.T. Kok, G.I. Holtzman, and D.D. Wolf. 1995. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) response to density of Cassida rubiginosa Muller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and plant competition. Biological Control 5: 31-38.
- 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.
- 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.

Agent Impact

Impact: Variable
Geographic Scale of impact: Variable
Impact Notes: In some areas, can significantly reduce biomass and survival of Cirsium arvense, with effects of feeding stronger than those of plant competition. In other regions overall impact appears minimal, likely hindered by predation and parasitism.

Impact References:
- Ang, B.N., L.T. Kok, G.I. Holtzman, and D.D. Wolf. 1995. Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.) response to density of Cassida rubiginosa Muller (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and plant competition. Biological Control 5: 31-38.
- 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.
- Kok, L.T. 1989. Biological control of weeds in Virginia from 1969-1986. In E.S. Delfosse, Ed. Proceedings of the VII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 6-11 March 1988, Rome, Italy; Istituto Sperimentale per la Patologia Vegetale. pp. 623-629.
- 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.

Limiting Factors

Parasitism; 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.

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: Yes
Other Species Attacked Notes: Feeds on a wide array of plant species within the Cardueae, many of which are native or of economic importance in North America. Not approved and not recommended for redistribution. Also feeds on Carduus acanthoides L., C. nutans L. and Cirsium vulgare L.

Non-Target References:
- Winston, R.L., R. Hansen, M. Schwarzländer, E.M. Coombs, C.B. Randall, and R. Lym. 2008. Biology and Biological Control of Exotic True Thistles. FHTET-2007-05. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. 157 pp.

Research Organizations

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (State (1))
Beltsville, Maryland (USDA (1))

Notes