Aphthona

Aphthona
Flea beetle Aphthona flava
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Chrysomelidae
Tribe: Alticini
Genus: Aphthona
Chevrolat, 1836[1]
Species

See text

Aphthona is a genus of beetle, in the leaf beetle family Chrysomelidae, native to Europe and Asia. More specifically, Aphthona are flea beetles, meaning they have enlarged hind legs for jumping away from potential danger. There are some 300 species known worldwide.[2]

This flea beetle genus is important because of the usefulness of some species in controlling leafy spurge, a major invasive weed in parts of western North America. Several Aphthona species have been taken from Europe and introduced into localized areas of the United States and Canada, and some success against the weed is being seen.[3][4] The six species used for this purpose include A. abdominalis, A. cyparissiae, A. czwalinae, A. flava, A. nigriscutis, and A. lacertosa, though A. abdominalis apparently never established a viable population and was never introduced in Canada.[5][6][7]

  1. ^ Bukejs, Andris (2009). "To the knowledge of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Alticinae) of the Latvian fauna. 4. Genus Aphthona Chevrolat, 1836". Acta Zoologica Lituanica. 19 (3): 223–230. doi:10.2478/v10043-009-0030-7.
  2. ^ "Aphthona Chevrolat, 1837". zin.ru. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  3. ^ Hodur, Nancy M.; Larry Leistritz, F.; Bangsund, Dean A. (2006). "Biological control of leafy spurge: utilization and implementation". Rangeland Ecology & Management. 59 (5): 445–452. doi:10.2111/06-005R.1. hdl:10150/643093.
  4. ^ Larson, Diane L.; Grace, James B.; Larson, Jennifer L. (2008). "Long-term dynamics of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) and its biocontrol agent, flea beetles in the genus Aphthona". Biological Control. 47 (2): 250–256. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2008.07.016. Download through DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln.
  5. ^ Roehrdanz, R.; Olson, D.; Fauske, G.; Bourchier, R.; Cortilet, A.; Sears, S. (2009). "New DNA markers reveal presence of Aphthona species (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) believed to have failed to establish after release into leafy spurge". Biological Control. 49 (1): 1–5. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2008.12.008. Archived 2011-07-21 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Anon (2006). "Ecology and management of leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.)" (PDF). United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Invasive Species Technical Note No. MT-2.
  7. ^ Bourchier, R.S., Erb, S., McClay, A.S., Gassmann, A., 2002. Euphorbia esula (L.) leafy spurge and Euphorbia cyparissias (L.) cypress spurge (Euphorbiaceae). In: Mason, P., Huber, J. (Eds.), Biological Control Programmes Against Insect and Weeds in Canada 1981–2000. Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux, Slough, UK, pp. 346–358.