Diorhabda meridionalis
Encyclopedia
Diorhabda meridionalis is a species of leaf beetle
known as the southern tamarisk beetle (SoTB) which feeds on tamarisk trees from Syria to western and southern Iran and southern Pakistan. The SoTB may have potential for use in North America as a biological pest control
agent against saltcedar or tamarisk (Tamarix
spp.), an invasive species
in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (where it might be less accurately referred to along with its closely related sibling species
as the 'saltcedar beetle', 'saltcedar leaf beetle', 'salt cedar leaf beetle', or 'tamarisk leaf beetle') (Tracy and Robbins 2009).
(Desbrochers) based on comparisons of the male and female genitalia, and provided illustrated taxonomic keys separating the SoTB from the four other sibling species
of the D. elongata (Brullé) species group: Diorhabda elongata
(Brullé), Diorhabda carinata
(Faldermann), Diorhabda sublineata
(Lucas), and Diorhabda carinulata
. (For additional information, see
Wikispecies: Diorhabda meridionalis.)
.
. The northern tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinulata
, is probably better adapted to northern cold deserts in North America where it is widely established, and the larger tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinata
, is probably better adapted to warm temperate grasslands and deserts. The subtropical tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda sublineata
, is probably better adapted to subtropical Mediterranean and subtropical interior desert habitats (Tracy and Robbins 2009). (See articles on other tamarisk beetles listed above for additional information on biological control.)
Leaf beetle
Beetles in the family Chrysomelidae are commonly known as leaf beetles. This is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2,500 genera, one of the largest and most commonly encountered of all beetle families....
known as the southern tamarisk beetle (SoTB) which feeds on tamarisk trees from Syria to western and southern Iran and southern Pakistan. The SoTB may have potential for use in North America as a biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
agent against saltcedar or tamarisk (Tamarix
Tamarix
The genus Tamarix is composed of about 50-60 species of flowering plants in the family Tamaricaceae, native to drier areas of Eurasia and Africa...
spp.), an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
in arid and semi-arid ecosystems (where it might be less accurately referred to along with its closely related sibling species
Sibling species
Sibling species are species that are very similar in appearance, in behavior and in other characteristics, but they are reproductively isolated. In other words, sibling species are pairs or groups of genetically closely related species which are often morphologically indistinguishable, but are...
as the 'saltcedar beetle', 'saltcedar leaf beetle', 'salt cedar leaf beetle', or 'tamarisk leaf beetle') (Tracy and Robbins 2009).
Taxonomy
The SoTB was first described from Minab, Iran as the subspecies Diorhabda carinulata meridionalis Berti and Rapilly (1973). Tracy and Robbins (2009) recognized Diorhabda meridionalis Berti and Rapilly as a separate species from Diorhabda carinulataDiorhabda carinulata
Diorhabda carinulata is a species of leaf beetle known as the northern tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from southern Russia and Iran to Mongolia and western China...
(Desbrochers) based on comparisons of the male and female genitalia, and provided illustrated taxonomic keys separating the SoTB from the four other sibling species
Sibling species
Sibling species are species that are very similar in appearance, in behavior and in other characteristics, but they are reproductively isolated. In other words, sibling species are pairs or groups of genetically closely related species which are often morphologically indistinguishable, but are...
of the D. elongata (Brullé) species group: Diorhabda elongata
Diorhabda elongata
Diorhabda elongata is a species of leaf beetle known as the Mediterranean tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from Portugal and Algeria east to southern Russia...
(Brullé), Diorhabda carinata
Diorhabda carinata
Diorhabda carinata is a species of leaf beetle known as the larger tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from Ukraine, eastern Turkey and Syria east to northwest China, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, extending as far south as southern Iran...
(Faldermann), Diorhabda sublineata
Diorhabda sublineata
Diorhabda sublineata is a species of leaf beetle known as the subtropical tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from Portugal, Spain and France to Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq...
(Lucas), and Diorhabda carinulata
Diorhabda carinulata
Diorhabda carinulata is a species of leaf beetle known as the northern tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from southern Russia and Iran to Mongolia and western China...
. (For additional information, see
Wikispecies: Diorhabda meridionalis.)Host plants
Field collections in Iran reveal that the SoTB feeds on an unidentified species of tamarisk. (Tracy and Robbins 2009). Further field collections are needed to identify which tamarisk species serve as hosts.Life cycle
The life cycle of the SoTB has not been studied, but it is probably similar to that of the closely related northern tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinulataDiorhabda carinulata
Diorhabda carinulata is a species of leaf beetle known as the northern tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from southern Russia and Iran to Mongolia and western China...
.
Biological control agent
The SoTB might be able to serve as an effective biological control agent for tamarisk in North America. Laboratory host range studies are needed to verify that SoTB is a specialist feeder on tamarisks. The SoTB may be better adapted to subtropical desert habitats of south and west Texas than other Old World tamarisk beetles that are being introduced, such as the Mediterranean tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda elongataDiorhabda elongata
Diorhabda elongata is a species of leaf beetle known as the Mediterranean tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from Portugal and Algeria east to southern Russia...
. The northern tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinulata
Diorhabda carinulata
Diorhabda carinulata is a species of leaf beetle known as the northern tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from southern Russia and Iran to Mongolia and western China...
, is probably better adapted to northern cold deserts in North America where it is widely established, and the larger tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda carinata
Diorhabda carinata
Diorhabda carinata is a species of leaf beetle known as the larger tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from Ukraine, eastern Turkey and Syria east to northwest China, Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan, extending as far south as southern Iran...
, is probably better adapted to warm temperate grasslands and deserts. The subtropical tamarisk beetle, Diorhabda sublineata
Diorhabda sublineata
Diorhabda sublineata is a species of leaf beetle known as the subtropical tamarisk beetle which feeds on tamarisk trees from Portugal, Spain and France to Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and Iraq...
, is probably better adapted to subtropical Mediterranean and subtropical interior desert habitats (Tracy and Robbins 2009). (See articles on other tamarisk beetles listed above for additional information on biological control.)
External links
- Texas Agri-Life Extension Leaflet; Biological Control of Saltcedar (regards use of other tamarisk beetle species). [ftp://ftp.brc.tamus.edu/pub/outgoing/jtracy/Publications/Saltcedar%20Biological%20Control%20L-5444.pdf PDF]
- Texas Agri-Life Research and Extension Program; Biological Control of Saltcedar: Using Natural Enemies to Combat an Invasive Weed Competing with Texas' Water Resources (regards use of other tamarisk beetle species). PDF
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and Texas Agri-Life Research and Extension Service Report of Information to the Public; Progress on Biological Control of Saltcedar in the Western U.S.: Emphasis -- Texas 2004-2009. [ftp://ftp.brc.tamus.edu/pub/outgoing/jtracy/Publications/SaltcedarPublicReportHandout9-9-09.pdf PDF]