Information

Agent

Pegomya euphorbiae (Kieffer)

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Anthomyiidae

Past Names/Synonyms: Pegomya argyrocephala (Meigen) pars

Notes: Previously included with Pegomya curticornis (Stein) under Pegomya argyrocephala (Meigen)

Agent Name References:
- Bourchier, R.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.

Agent Synonym References:
- Bourchier, R.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.
- Michelsen, V. 1988. Taxonomy of the species of Pegomya (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) developing in the shoots of spurges (Euphorbia spp.). Entolomogica Scandinavica 18: 425-435.

Agent Notes References:
- Michelsen, V. 1988. Taxonomy of the species of Pegomya (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) developing in the shoots of spurges (Euphorbia spp.). Entolomogica Scandinavica 18: 425-435.

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:
- Bourchier, R. and B.H. Van Hezewijk. 2013. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and D. Gillespie, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 2001-2012. Chapter 47. CABI Publishing Wallingford, U.K. pp. 316-320.
- Bourchier, R.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.

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:
- Bourchier, R.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.
- Holden, A.N.G. and P.G. Mahlberg. 1992. Application of chemotaxonomy of leafy spurges (Euphorbia spp.) in biological control. Canadian Journal of Botany 70(8): 1529-1536.

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.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.
- Holden, A.N.G. and P.G. Mahlberg. 1992. Application of chemotaxonomy of leafy spurges (Euphorbia spp.) in biological control. Canadian Journal of Botany 70(8): 1529-1536.

Release and Source Information

List: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Hungary
Year: 1988
Region: North America
Country: Canada
Subregion of Country: AB, MB, ON, SK
Subregion specific:

Release History: AB 1988 1990-1993, ON 1990, SK 1989, MB year unknown

Release Notes:

Source Information References:
- Bourchier, R.S. 2013. (personal communication) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Weed Biocontrol, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403 1 Ave S, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1.
- Bourchier, R.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.
- Harris, P. 1997. (personal communication) Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 3000, Lethbridge, Alberta, TIJ 4B1, Canada.
- McClay, A.S., D.E. Cole, P. Harris, and C.J. Richardson. 1995. Biological control of leafy spurge in Alberta: progress and prospects. AECV95-R2. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. 63 pp.

Original Host Species

Recorded as collected from Euphorbia virgata Waldst. & Kit. whose name has since been changed to Euphorbia esula L. subsp. tommasiniana (Bertol.) Kuzmanov

Original Host Species 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.

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: MB, SK
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- McClay, A.S. 2013. (personal communication) McClay Ecoscience, 15 Greenbriar Crescent, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8H 1H8.
- Gassmann, A. 2014. (personal communication) CABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland.
- Bourchier, R.S. 2016 (personal communication) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Weed Biocontrol, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403 1 Ave S, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1.

Abundance

Unknown

Abundance References:
- Gassmann, A. 2014. (personal communication) CABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland.
- Bourchier, R.S. 2020 (personal communication) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Weed Biocontrol, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403 1 Ave S, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1.

Agent Impact

Impact: Unknown
Geographic Scale of impact: Unknown
Impact Notes: Survived in field cages in AB for 4 years but all redistributions were believed to have failed. In 2014, establishment was confirmed at the initial release areas in MB and SK. Density and impact have not been assessed.

Impact References:
- Bourchier, R.S., S. Erb, A.S. McClay, and A. Gassmann. 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.), leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyprarissias (L.), cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In P.G. Mason and J.T. Huber, Eds. Biological Control Programmes in Canada 1981-2000. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. pp. 346-358.
- McClay, A.S. 2013. (personal communication) McClay Ecoscience, 15 Greenbriar Crescent, Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada T8H 1H8.
- McClay, A.S., D.E. Cole, P. Harris, and C.J. Richardson. 1995. Biological control of leafy spurge in Alberta: progress and prospects. AECV95-R2. Alberta Environmental Centre, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada. 63 pp.
- Gassmann, A. 2014. (personal communication) CABI, Rue des Grillons 1, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland.
- Bourchier, R.S. 2020 (personal communication) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Weed Biocontrol, Lethbridge Research Centre, 5403 1 Ave S, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada T1J 4B1.

Limiting Factors

None

Other Attack

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

Research Organizations

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Notes