Centaurea-diffusa

Guides

• Sphenoptera jugoslavica

  bronze knapweed root borer

  Sphenoptera jugoslavica is a metallic wood-boring beetle in the family Buprestidae. It is monophagous on Centaurea diffusa (diffuse knapweed), forming spindle-shaped root galls in rosettes. The species is univoltine and was introduced to North America as a biological control agent for this invasive weed. Its effectiveness is limited by phenological requirements for arrested plant growth during oviposition.

  biological-controlinvasive-species-managementgall-formerroot-borersteppe-habitatmonophagousunivoltineCentaurea-diffusadiffuse-knapweedBuprestidaeChilostetha