Establishment of Hypena opulenta (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on Vincetoxicum rossicum in Ontario, Canada

Citation

Bourchier, R.S., Cappuccino, N., Rochette, A., des Rivières, J., Smith, S.M., Tewksbury, L., Casagrande, R. (2019). Establishment of Hypena opulenta (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) on Vincetoxicum rossicum in Ontario, Canada. Biocontrol Science and Technology, [online] 29(9), 917-923. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2019.1608511

Plain language summary

The paper reports on the first establishment in Canada and North America of a beneficial insects released for the biological control of invasive swallow-worts or dog strangling vine. The insect was first released in 2014 and its populations have persisted and increased at the release site for 5 years and have begun to spread. The next step is to evaluate the impact the insect is having as its poulations increase on the weed.

Abstract

Hypena opulenta, a moth native to Ukraine, was released in 2013–2014 as a biocontrol agent for pale swallow-wort Vincetoxicum rossicum, an invasive vine, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Blacklight trapping and surveys of feeding damage showed that H. opulenta has successfully established, increased in abundance and spread up to 2.0 km.

Publication date

2019-09-02

Author profiles