Information

Agent

Spurgia esulae Gagné

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Cecidomyiidae

Past Names/Synonyms: Bayeria capitigena Bremi

Notes: Previously included with Spurgia capitigena (Bremi) under Bayeria capitigena Bremi. The agent was transferred to Spurgia and separated into two distinct species in 1990 by the entomologist R.J. Gagné. More recent studies with these midges revealed no evidence for two species, or two species separated by host plant. However, a revision of this group has not been published, so the two names created by Gagné remained valid at the time of publication of this version of the catalogue.

Agent Name References:
- Anderson, G.L., E.S. Delfosse, N.R. Spencer, C.W. Prosser, and R.D. Richard. 2000. Biological control of leafy spurge: an emerging success story. In N.R. Spencer, Ed. Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 4-14 July 1999, Bozeman, Montana, USA; Montana State University pp. 15-25.
- Gassmann, A. and D. Schroeder. 1995. The search for effective biological control agents in Europe: history and lessons from leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) and cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias L.). Biological Control 5: 466-477.

Agent Synonym References:
- Gagné, R.J. 1989. The gall midge complexes (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on spurges (Euphorbia spp.) in Europe. In 1989 Leafy Spurge Symposium. 12-13 July 1989, Bozeman, Montana; Montana Agricultural Experiment Station. pp. 2-3.
- Gagné, R.J. 1990. Gall midge complex (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in bud galls of palearctic Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 83: 335-345.
- Hansen, R.W., N.R. Spencer, L. Fornasari, P.C. Quimby Jr., R.W. Pemberton, and R.M. Nowierski. 2004. Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula (complex). In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 233-262.

Agent Notes References:
- Lloyd, C.J., R.A. Hufbauer, A. Jackson, S.J. Nissen, and A.P. Norton. 2005. Pre- and post-introduction patterns in neutral genetic diversity in the leafy spurge gall midge, Spurgia capitigena (Bremi) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Biological Control 33(2): 153-164.

Weed

Euphorbia esula L.

Family: Euphorbiaceae
Incorrect Past Names/Synonyms: Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit.
Common Name: leafy spurge

Notes: Increasing evidence indicates the species considered weedy throughout North America is Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit., a species distinct from Euphorbia esula L. Because of widespread application of the name E. esula in North American weed literature and continued taxonomic uncertainty in this Euphorbia group, the name E. esula is retained in this catalogue, though the authors of this catalogue recognize the name E. virgata is likely most accurate.

Origin: Eurasia

Weed Name References:
- Gassmann, A. and D. Schroeder. 1995. The search for effective biological control agents in Europe: history and lessons from leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) and cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias L.). Biological Control 5: 466-477.
- Nowierski, R.M. and R.W. Pemberton. 2002. Leafy Spurge. 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. 181-194.

Weed Synonym References:
- Riina, R., J.A. Peirson, D.V. Geltman, J. Molero, B. Frajman, A. Pahlevani, L. Barres, J.J. Morawetz, Y. Salmaki, S. Zarre, A. Kryukov, P.V. Bruyns, and P.E. Berry. 2013. A worldwide molecular phylogeny and classification of the leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 62: 316–342.
- Berry, P.E. 2017. (personal communication) University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2035 Kraus Nat. Sci. Bldg, 830 N University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA.

Weed Common Name References:
- Gassmann, A. and D. Schroeder. 1995. The search for effective biological control agents in Europe: history and lessons from leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) and cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias L.). Biological Control 5: 466-477.
- Nowierski, R.M. and R.W. Pemberton. 2002. Leafy Spurge. 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. 181-194.

Weed Notes References:
- Riina, R., J.A. Peirson, D.V. Geltman, J. Molero, B. Frajman, A. Pahlevani, L. Barres, J.J. Morawetz, Y. Salmaki, S. Zarre, A. Kryukov, P.V. Bruyns, and P.E. Berry. 2013. A worldwide molecular phylogeny and classification of the leafy spurges, Euphorbia subgenus Esula (Euphorbiaceae). Taxon 62: 316–342.
- Berry, P.E. 2017. (personal communication) University of Michigan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 2035 Kraus Nat. Sci. Bldg, 830 N University, Ann Arbor, MI 48109 USA.

Weed Origin References:
- Bourchier, R., R. Hansen, R. Lym, A. Norton, D. Olson, C.B. Randall, M. Schwarzländer, and L. Skinner. 2006. Biology and Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. FHTET-2005-07. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. 138 pp.
- Gassmann, A. and D. Schroeder. 1995. The search for effective biological control agents in Europe: history and lessons from leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) and cypress spurge (Euphorbia cyparissias L.). Biological Control 5: 466-477.

Release and Source Information

List: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Italy
Year: 1985
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: CO, ID, IA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, WA, WI, WY
Subregion specific:

Release History: MT ND 1985-1987; Redistributed MT to: CO MN SD WI 1993-1996, IA ID 1994-1995, MI NH RI 1995-1996, NE NV NM WA 1994-1996, ND 1988-1990 1993, OR 1988-1990 1993, UT 1994 1996, WY 1987 1993-1995, within MT 1988-1990 1992-1995; Redistributed from MT ND to NY 1995-1996

Release Notes: Released on both Euphorbia cyparissias and E. esula.

Source Information References:
- Faubert, H. and R.A. Casagrande. 2002. Cypress Spurge. 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. 195-207.
- Hansen, R.W., R.D. Richard, P.E. Parker, and L.E. Wendel. 1997. Distribution of Biological Control Agents of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) in the United States: 1988–1996. Biological Control 10(2): 129-142.
- Lloyd, C.J., R.A. Hufbauer, A. Jackson, S.J. Nissen, and A.P. Norton. 2005. Pre- and post-introduction patterns in neutral genetic diversity in the leafy spurge gall midge, Spurgia capitigena (Bremi) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Biological Control 33(2): 153-164.
- Pecora, P., R.W. Pemberton, M. Stazi, and G.R. Johnson. 1991. Host specificity of Spurgia esulae Gagné (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a gall midge introduced into the United States for control of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L. "Complex"). Environmental Entomology 20: 282-287.
- Pemberton, R.W. 1995. Leafy spurge. 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. 289-295.

Original Host Species

Euphorbia esula L.

Original Host Species References:
- Pemberton, R.W. 1995. Leafy spurge. 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. 289-295.

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: CO, IA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NY, ND, RI, SD, WY
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- Andreas, J.E., E.M. Coombs, J. Milan, G.L. Piper, and M. Schwarzländer. 2013. Biological Control. In E. Peachey, D. Ball, H. A., J. Yenish, T. Miller, D. Morishita, and P. Hutchinson, Eds. Pacific Northwest Weed Management Handbook. Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. B1-B6.
- Bourchier, R., R. Hansen, R. Lym, A. Norton, D. Olson, C.B. Randall, M. Schwarzländer, and L. Skinner. 2006. Biology and Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. FHTET-2005-07. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. 138 pp.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Hansen, R.W., R.D. Richard, P.E. Parker, and L.E. Wendel. 1997. Distribution of Biological Control Agents of Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia esula L.) in the United States: 1988–1996. Biological Control 10(2): 129-142.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report 2013. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 38 pp.

Abundance

Limited

Abundance References:
- Bourchier, R., R. Hansen, R. Lym, A. Norton, D. Olson, C.B. Randall, M. Schwarzländer, and L. Skinner. 2006. Biology and Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. FHTET-2005-07. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. 138 pp.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Hansen, R.W., N.R. Spencer, L. Fornasari, P.C. Quimby Jr., R.W. Pemberton, and R.M. Nowierski. 2004. Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula (complex). In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 233-262.

Agent Impact

Impact: None
Geographic Scale of impact:
Impact Notes: No damage apparent. Densities generally low, but even where most abundant, galls form following flowering so overall impact insignificant.

Impact References:
- Bourchier, R., R. Hansen, R. Lym, A. Norton, D. Olson, C.B. Randall, M. Schwarzländer, and L. Skinner. 2006. Biology and Biological Control of Leafy Spurge. FHTET-2005-07. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. 138 pp.
- Faubert, H. and R.A. Casagrande. 2002. Cypress Spurge. 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. 195-207.
- Hansen, R.W., N.R. Spencer, L. Fornasari, P.C. Quimby Jr., R.W. Pemberton, and R.M. Nowierski. 2004. Leafy spurge, Euphorbia esula (complex). In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 233-262.

Limiting Factors

None

Other Attack

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

Research Organizations

University of North Dakota, Fargo (State (11))
University of Wyoming, Laramie (State (13))
Oregon State Department of Agriculture, Salem (State (15))
Auburn University, Alabama (State (28))
Montana State University (State (7))
Bozeman, Montana (USDA (10))
Rome, Italy (USDA (12))
Davis, California (USDA (14))
Albany, California (USDA (7))
United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS)

Notes