Centaurea-solstitialis
Guides
Eustenopus villosus
yellow starthistle hairy weevil
Eustenopus villosus is a small weevil in the family Curculionidae, widely known as the yellow starthistle hairy weevil. It is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region and has been introduced to the western United States as a biological control agent against the invasive weed yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). Both adults and larvae feed on the plant's reproductive structures, with larvae capable of destroying nearly all developing seeds within a single flower head. The species is considered one of the more effective biocontrol agents for this noxious weed.