Pelochrista Medullana 

Lepidoptera : Tortricidae
Moth

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Biological Control Links     Photos:  Adults

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Origin- Collected from from Eastern Romania and Eastern Austria, but the native distribution is from Turkey, Northern Hungary to southeastern Russia. (1,3)

Life Cycle:
Over wintering Stage- They over winter as Larvae, but  keep on feeding in the spring. (1)
Egg Stage- The eggs are laid one by one or in small bunches two or three at a time, on the weeds leaves. They like to lay their eggs on the leaves close to the ground. The eggs are oval shaped and flattened with a robust outer covering, with ribs. (1)
Laval Stage- After hatching the laval move to the center of the rosette and eat into the root crown.  The young larvae eat the root cortex while the older ones eat deeper. There can be three or four larva per plant. (1)
Pupil Stage- The pupae is located in the root of the plant. (1)
Adult Stage- Adults are small at about 8 mm or about .32 in. long, with tan to grayish mottled wings. (1)

Effects:
Destructive Stage- Larval (1)
Plant Species Attacked- They eat diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) and spotted knapweed (C. maculosa). (1)
Site of Attack- They eat the roots cortex. (1)
Impact on the Host- When the larvae feed on the plants root they reduce the nutrients in the plant as it damages the host. (1,2)

Releases:
First introduced into the U.S.- In 1984 in Montana. (1)
Now established in- Not recovered as yet. (1)
Habitat- Moths usually live in dry areas, so you should probably release them in dry areas. In Romania, the higher density of the plant, the greater rate of attack. (1,3)

Availability- Not available. (1)

Stages to Transfer- Pupal and larval. (1)

Redistribution- They can be collected as larvae in the roots.  If you want to collect them in the fall, winter, or early spring, the collected roots can be stored if kept cool for subsequent spring releases. (1)

Purchase: You can not purchase this insect at this time but, hopefully soon you can.

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Bibliography

1. Rees, Norman, et, al., Ed., Biological Control of Weeds in the West, Western Society of weed science in Cooperation with USDA ARS, MT Dept. of Ag, and MT state Univ., Color World Printers, Bozeman MT, Feb, 1996.

2. Breitenfeldt, Todd, Personal Interview, Biology. Teacher, Whitehall schools, Box 1109, Whitehall, Mt 59759, 406-287-3862, 9-1-99.

<>3. Noxious Weeds, Help Save Montana From These Invaders, Pamphlet, Montana Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Program, author and date unknown.

Links:
1.  http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/biocontrol/weedfeeders/pelochrista_medullana.html
2.  http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/WEEDS/bio_profile_peme.shtml
3.  http://www.montana.edu/wwwpb/pubs/knapweed/circ311.html
4.  http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/fact/cebi1.htm


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By: Josh Brown, Published by: Jessica Bell.        Updated by: Christopher Bryson 3/1/07.


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