Biological control agents and host plants

Publication date: December 13, 2017

Invasive plant species targeted in B.C. have been introduced from other continents, primarily Europe and Asia, and have no natural enemies to attack them and keep them under control. Biocontrol research and thereafter management efforts reunites these invasive plants with their natural enemies by importing agents, mainly insects, that feed on the plants from the native habitat. Release of biological control agents into British Columbia began in 1951 with the introduction of Chrysolina quadrigemina (Suffrain) and C. hyperici (Forster) to control St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) [1]. As of February 2020, B.C. has records for 87 separate species, or 89 if strains of species are considered as separate biocontrol agents, having either been purposely introduced (72) or having found their way into the province (17) to target 38 invasive plants. Establishment of the purposely introduced species in B.C. is at 74%, which is higher than the average of about 60% reported for classical invasive plant biocontrol agents released elsewhere in the world [2], and even the average of 70% recorded for agents released in western Canada [1]. In few historic occasions, and in current rare circumstances, natural predators have been able to follow their hosts into new habitats. These adventive insects are described:

Adventive Biocontrol Agents 2022 (PDF, 67KB)

References

[1] De Clerck-Floate, R. and H. Cárcamo. 2011. Biocontrol Arthropods: New Denizens of Canada's Grassland Agroecosystems. In Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands (Volume 2): Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape. Edited by K. D. Floate. Biological Survey of Canada. pp. 291-321.

[2] McFadyen, R.E.C. 1998. Biological control of weeds. Annual Review of Entomology. 43:369-393.

The table below lists invasive plant species and their biological control agents.

Biocontrol Agents and Host Plants
Invasive Plant	Biocontrol Agent	Agent Type	First Reported / Released in B.C.	Released in BEC Zone	Positive Monitoring / Dispersal BEC Zone *
Black knapweed Centaurea nigra	Larinus obtusus (PDF, 641KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for other Centaurea species	None	CWH, CDF, IDF
Bohemian knotweed (PDF, 67KB) Fallopia bohemica	Aphalara itadori	Sap-sucking psyllid	2014	ICH	None
Brown knapweed Centaurea jacea	Urophora jaceana (PDF, 470KB)	Seed feeding fly	1986	None	None
Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare	Larinus carlinae (PDF, 737KB) (previously L. planus)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive: Approved for Canada thistle in 1988	None	BG, CDF, CWH, IDF
Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare	Rhinocyllus conicus (PDF, 937KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for Nodding thistle	IDF	BG, CDF, CWH, IDF, PP
Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare	Trichosirocalus horridus (PDF, 773KB)	Rosette/ root crown feeding beetle (weevil)	1991	CWH	None
Bull thistle Cirsium vulgare	Urophora stylata (PDF, 625KB)	Seedhead gall-producing fly	1973	BG, BWBS, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Burdock Arctium minus	Metzneria lappella (PDF, 609KB)	Seed feeding moth	Adventive	None	BD, IDF, MS, PP
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Altica carduorum (PDF, 275KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	1964	CDF, CWH, PP	None
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Cassida rubignosa (PDF, 837KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	Adventive	None	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Hadroplontus litura (PDF, 798KB) (previously Ceutorhynchus litura)	Stem feeding beetle (weevil)	1975	BG, CDF	CDF
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Larinus carlinae (PDF, 737KB) (previously L. planus) Field guide	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive; approved for release on Canada thistle in 1988	BG, BWBS, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Puccinia punctiformis (PDF, 599KB)	Leaf and stem rust (fungus)	Adventive	None	BG, CDH, CWF, IDF, SBS
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Rhinocyllus conicus (PDF, 937KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for Nodding thistle	BG, CWH, IDF, MS, SBS	CDF, CWH, IDF, MS
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Terellia ruficauda (PDF, 593KB)	Seed feeding fly	Adventive: first report 1931	None	None
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Urophora cardui (PDF, 765KB) Field guide	Stem gall-forming fly	1974	BG, BWBS, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	BG, BWBS, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, PP, SBS
Canada thistle Cirsium arvense	Urophora stylata (PDF, 625KB)	Seedhead gall-producing fly	Imported for bull thistle	None	IDF, SBS
Cypress spurge Euphorbia cyparissias	Aphthona flava (PDF, 667KB)	Root feeding beetle (flea beetle)	Imported for leafy spurge	IDF	None
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Brachypterolus pulicarius (PDF, 772KB)	Seed feeding beetle	Adventive	BWBS, PP	BG, IDF, PP
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Calophasia lunula (PDF, 725KB)	Foliar feeding moth	1960s	BG, CWH, ICH, IDF, PP	ICH, IDF, MS, PP
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Eteobalea intermediella (PDF, 462KB)	Root feeding moth	1991	BG	None
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Mecinus janthiniformis (PDF, 692KB) (previously identified as M. janthinus) Field guide	Stem mining beetle (weevil)	1991		BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Rhinusa antirrhini (PDF, 883KB) (previously Gymnetron antirrhini Dalmatian toadflax strain) Field guide	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	1993	BG, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	BG, IDF, MS, PP
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Rhinusa linariae (PDF, 769KB) (previously Gymnetron linariae	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	1996	BG	None
Dalmatian toadflax Linaria dalmatica	Rhinusa neta (PDF, 695KB) (previously Gymnetron neta, R. netum)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive	IDF	BG, CWH, IDF, MS, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Agapeta zoegana (PDF, 508KB) Field guide	Root feeding moth	1982	BG, ICH, IDF, PP	BG, ICH, IDF, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Chaetorellia acrolophi (PDF, 718KB)	Seed feeding fly	Imported for spotted knapweed	None	BG, ICH, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Cyphocleonus achates (PDF, 781KB) Field guide	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	1987	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP	BG, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Larinus minutus (PDF, 731KB) Field guide	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	1991	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP	BG, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Larinus obtusus (PDF, 641KB) Field guide	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	1993	BG, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP	CDF, ICH, IDF
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Metzneria paucipunctella (PDF, 736KB)	Seed feeding moth	1981	None	BG
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Pelochrista medullana (PDF, 741KB)	Root feeding moth	1982	BG, IDF, PP	None
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Pterolonche inspersa (PDF, 2MB)	Root feeding moth	1986	BG, IDF, PP	BG, ICH, IDF, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Puccinia jaceae (PDF, 466KB)	Leaf and stem rust (fungus)	Adventive 1988	None	PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (PDF, 475KB)	Root, leaf, stem fungus	Naturally occurring	IDF	IDF
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Sphenoptera jugoslavica (PDF, 656KB)	Root feeding beetle	1976	BG, CDF, ICH, IDF, PP	BG, CDF, ICH, IDF, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Subanguina picridis (PDF, 470KB)	Gall forming nematode	1985	IDF	IDF
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Urophora affinis (PDF, 664KB)	Seed feeding fly	1970	ICH	BG, ICH, IDF, PP
Diffuse knapweed Centaurea diffusa	Urophora quadrifasciata (PDF, 674KB)	Seed feeding fly	1972	ICH	BG, CDF, PP
Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis	Aceria malherbae (PDF, 674KB) (previously A. convolvuli)	Leaf and bud galling mite	1992	BG, IDF, PP	BG, PP
Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis	Charidotella sexpunctata bicolor (PDF, 687KB) (previously Metriona bicolor)	Foliar feeding beetle	1969 (B.C. lab study)	CWH	None
Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis	Deloyala guttata (PDF, 272KB) (previously Chirida guttata)	Foliar feeding beetle	1969 (B.C. lab study)	CWH	None
Gorse Ulex europaeus	Agonopterix nervosa (PDF, 659KB)	Foliar feeding moth	Adventive	None	CDF
Hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium	Charidotella sexpunctata bicolor (PDF, 687KB) (previously Metriona bicolor)	Foliar feeding beetle	1971	CWH	CWH
Hedge false bindweed Calystegia sepium	Deloyala guttata (PDF, 272KB) (previously Chirida guttata)	Foliar feeding beetle	1971	CWH	None
Hound's tongue Cynoglossum officinale	Longitarsus quadriguttatus (PDF, 744KB)	Root feeding flea beetle	1998	BG, IDF, PP	BG, IDF, PP
Hound's tongue Cynoglossum officinale	Mogulones crucifer (PDF, 659KB) (previously M. cruciger) Field guide	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	1997	BG, ICH, IDF, MS, PP	BG, ICH, IDF, MS, PP
Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica	Aphalara itadori	Sap-sucking psyllid	2014	ICH	None
Kingdevil hawkweed Pilosella floribunda	Aulacidea subterminalis (PDF, 704KB)	Gall-forming wasp	2011	IDF	IDF
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Aphthona cyparissiae (PDF, 654KB) (mix with A. nigriscutis)	Root feeding flea beetles	1989	BG, IDF, PP, SBS	BG, IDF, PP
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Aphthona czwalinae (PDF, 598KB) (mix with A. lacertosa)	Root feeding flea beetles	1995	BG, IDF, PP	IDF, PP
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Aphthona flava (PDF, 667KB)	Root feeding flea beetle	1990	BG, IDF, MS, PP	BG, IDF, PP
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Aphtona lacertosa (PDF, 520KB) (mix with A. czwalinae)	Root feeding flea beetle	1995	BG, IDF, PP	IDF, PP
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Aphthona nigriscutis (PDF, 801KB)	Root feeding flea beetle	1986	BG, IDF, PP, SBS	BG, IDF, PP, SBS
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Hyles euphorbiae (PDF, 779KB)	Foliar feeding moth	1966	IDF	IDF, PP
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Lobesia euphorbiana (PDF, 700KB)	Leaf tying moth	1987	BG, IDF, PP	BG, IDF, PP
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Minoa murinata (PDF, 483KB)	Foliar feeding moth	1994	PP	None
Leafy spurge Euphorbia esula	Spurgia esula (PDF, 548KB)	Bud gall forming midge	1990	BG, IDF	None
Marsh plume thistle Cirsium palustre	Rhinocyllus conicus (PDF, 937KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for nodding thistle	ICH, SBS	ICH, SBS
Marsh plume thistle Cirsium palustre	Terelia ruficauda (PDF, 593KB)	Seed feeding fly	Adventive	None	ICH
Marsh plume thistle Cirsium palustre	Trichosirocalus horridus (PDF, 773KB)	Rosette/root crown feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for nodding thistle	ICH, SBS	None
Meadow hawkweed Pilosella caespitosa	Cheilosia urbana (PDF, 491KB)	Root feeding hover fly	2018	ICH	None
Meadow knapweed Centaurea debeuxii	Agapeta zoegana (PDF, 508KB)	Root feeding moth	Imported for other Centaurea species	CDF, CWH	IDF
Meadow knapweed Centaurea debeuxii	Cyphocleonus achates (PDF, 781KB)	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for other Centaurea species	CDF, CWH	None
Meadow knapweed Centaurea debeuxii	Larinus obtusus (PDF, 641KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for other Centaurea species	CDF, CWH, ICH	CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF
Meadow knapweed Centaurea debeuxii	Metzneria paucinpunctella (PDF, 736KB)	Seed feeding moth	Imported for other Centaurea species	None	ICH, IDF
Meadow knapweed Centaurea debeuxii	Urophora affinis (PDF, 664KB)	Seed feeding fly	Imported for other Centaurea species	None	CWH
Meadow knapweed Centaurea debeuxii	Urophora quadrifasciata (PDF, 674KB)	Seed feeding fly	Imported for other Centaurea species	None	ICH, IDF
Mouse-ear hawkweed (PDF, 675KB) Pilosella officinarum	Aulacidea subterminalis (PDF, 704KB)	Gall forming wasp	2011	IDF	IDF
Mullein Verbascum thapsus L.	Rhinusa tetra (PDF, 586KB) (previously Gymnaetron tetrum)	Seed and foliar feeding weevil	Adventive	None	BD, ICH, IDF, PP
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans	Cassida rubiginosa (PDF, 837KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	Adventive	None	IDF
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans	Larinus carlinae (PDF, 737KB) (previously L. planus)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive: approved for Canada thistle (1988)	None	IDF, PP
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans	Puccinia carduorum (PDF, 619KB)	Leaf and stem rust (fungus)	Adventive	None	BG, IDF
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans	Rhinocyllus conicus (PDF, 937KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	1979	BG, ESSF, ICH, IDF, PP	IDF, PP
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans	Trichosirocalus horridus (PDF, 773KB)	Rosette/root crown feeding beetle (weevil)	1979	BG, IDF, PP	BG, IDF, PP
Nodding thistle Carduus nutans	Urophora solstitialis (PDF, 517KB)	Seed feeding fly	1991	None	None
Orange hawkweed Hieracium aurantiacum	Aulacidea subterminalis (PDF, 704KB)	Gall forming wasp	2011	IDF	IDF
Orange hawkweed Hieracium aurantiacum	Cheilosia urbana (PDF, 491KB)	Root feeding hover fly	2017	ICH	None
Perennial sow thistle Sonchus arvensis	Cystiphora sonchi (PDF, 567KB)	Leaf gall forming fly	1984	SBS	None
Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides	Cassida rubignosa (PDF, 837KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	Adventive	None	BG, PP
Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides	Larinus carlinae (PDF, 737KB) (previously L. planus)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive: approved on Canada thistle (1988)	None	ICH, IDF, PP
Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides	Rhinocyllus conicus (PDF, 937KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for nodding thistle	ICH, IDF	BG, ICH, IDF, PP
Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides	Trichosirocalus horridus (PDF, 773KB)	Rosette/ root crown feeding beetle (weevil)	1975	BG, IDF, PP	BG, ICH, IDF, PP
Plumeless thistle Carduus acanthoides	Urophora solstitialis (PDF, 517KB)	Seed feeding fly	1991	ICH	None
Puncturevine Tribulus terrestris	Microlarinus lareynii (PDF, 529KB) (mix with M. lypriformis)	Seed feeding beetles (weevils)	1986	BG	None
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria	Galerucella calmariensis (PDF, 798KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	1993	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, PP, SBPS, SBS	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, PP, SBS
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria	Galerucella pusilla (PDF, 651KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	1994	BG, CWH, PP	BG, CWH, PP
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria	Galerucella calmariensis (PDF, 798KB) (mix with G. pusilla)	Foliar feeding beetle	1995	CDF	CDF
Purple loosestrife Lythrum salicaria	Hylobius transversovittatus (PDF, 651KB)	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	1994	CDF	CDF
Rush skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea	Aceria chondrillae (PDF, 606KB) (previously Eriophyes chondrillae)	Gall forming mite	1993	ICH, IDF	ICH, IDF
Rush skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea	Bradyrrhoa gilveolella (PDF, 601KB)	Root feeding moth	2007	IDF	None
Rush skeletonweed Chondrilla juncea	Puccinia chondrillina (PDF, 660KB)	Leaf and stem rust (fungus)	Adventive	IDF	ICH, IDF
Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens	Puccinia acroptili (PDF, 609KB)	Leaf and stem rust (fungus)	Adventive	BG, PP	BG, PP
Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens	Aulacidea acroptilonica (PDF, 575KB)	Gall forming wasp	2015	BG, PP	PP
Russian knapweed Acroptilon repens	Subanguina picridis (PDF, 470KB)	Gall forming nematode	1985	BG, PP	None
Scentless chamomile Tripleurospermum perforatum (previously Matricaria perforata)	Microplontus edentulus (PDF, 629KB)	Stem mining beetle (weevil)	1997	BWBS, IDF	BWBS
Scentless chamomile Tripleurospermum perforatum (previously Matricaria perforata)	Omphalapion hookeri (PDF, 797KB) (previously Apion hookeri)	Seedhead feeding beetle (weevil)	1992	BWBS, ICH, IDF, MS, SBPS, SBS	BWBS, ICH, IDF, MS, SBS
Scentless chamomile Tripleurospermum perforatum (previously Matricaria perforata)	Rhopalomyia tripleurospermi (PDF, 812KB)	Gall forming midge	1999	BWBS, ICH, IDF, MS, SBS	BWBS, ICH, IDF, MS, SBS
Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius	Aceria genistae (PDF, 741KB)	Gall mite	Adventive	None	CDF, CWH
Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius	Agonopterix nervosa (PDF, 659KB)	Foliar feeding moth	Adventive	None	CDF
Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius	Bruchidius villosus (PDF, 722KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive	ICH	CDF, CWH, ICH
Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius	Exapion fuscirostre (PDF, 816KB)	Seed feeding weevil	Adventive	ICH	CDF, CWH, ICH
Short-fringed knapweed Centaurea nigrescens	Larinus obtusus (PDF, 641KB)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Imported for other Centaurea species	None	IDF
Short-fringed knapweed Centaurea nigrescens	Urophora quadrifasciata (PDF, 674KB)	Seed feeding fly	Imported for other Centaurea species	None	IDF
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Agapeta zoegana (PDF, 508KB) Field guide	Root feeding moth	1982	BG, CDF, CMA, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, IMH, MS, PP, SBS	BG, CDF, CMA, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Chaetorellia acrolophi (PDF, 718KB)	Seed feeding fly	1991	BG, CWH, ICH, IDF, SBS	BG, ICH, IDF, MS, PP
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Cyphocleonus achates (PDF, 781KB) Field guide	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	1987	BG, BWBS, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	BG, CDF, CMA, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Larinus minutus (PDF, 731KB) Field guide	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	1991	BG, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Larinus obtusus (PDF, 641KB) Field guide	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	1993	BG, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS	BG, CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Metzneria paucipunctella (PDF, 736KB)	Seed feeding moth	1973	CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, SBS	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, PP
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Pelochrista medullana (PDF, 471KB)	Root feeding moth	1982	None	None
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Pterolonche inspersa (PDF, 2MB)	Root feeding moth	1987	ICH	ICH
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Puccinia jaceae (PDF, 466KB)	Leaf and stem rust (fungus)	Adventive	None	None
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (PDF, 475KB)	Root, leaf and stem fungus	Naturally occurring	IDF	IDF
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Sphenoptera jugoslavica (PDF, 656KB)	Root feeding beetle	1987	CDF, ICH, IDF	BG, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, PP
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Terellia virens (PDF, 537KB)	Seed feeding fly	1991	BG, ICH, IDF, PP	ICH
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Urophora affinis (PDF, 664KB)	Seed feeding fly	1970	CDF	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, PP
Spotted knapweed Centaurea biebersteinii	Urophora quadrifasciata (PDF, 674KB)	Seed feeding fly	1972	None	BG, CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, PP
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Agrilus hyperici (PDF, 717KB)	Root feeding beetle	1955	CDF, ESSF, ICH, IDF	ESSF, ICH, IDF, PP
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Aphis chloris (PDF, 679KB)	Sap sucking aphid	1979	CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, PP	ESSF, ICH, IDF, PP
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Aplocera plagiata (PDF, 876KB) (previously Anaitis plagiata)	Foliar feeding moth	1967	CDF, CWH, ESSF, ICH, IDF, MS, SBS	CDF, CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Chrysolina hyperici (PDF, 633KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	1951	CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP	ESSF, IDF, MS
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Chrysolina quadrigemina (PDF, 732KB) (previously C. gemellata)	Foliar feeding beetle	1952	CWH, ICH, IDF, MS	CDF, CWH, ESSF, IDF, MS
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Chrysolina varians (PDF, 628KB)	Foliar feeding beetle	1957	ICH, PP	None
St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum	Zeuxidiplosis giardi (PDF, 476KB)	Gall forming midge	1955	ICH	None
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Botanophila seneciella (PDF, 721KB) (previously B. jacobaeae, Hylemya seneciella, Pegohylemyia jacobaeae)	Seed feeding fly	1968	CWH	CDF, CWH, IDF
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Cochylis atricapitana (PDF, 776KB) Field guide Appendix I	Root crown feeding moth	1990	CDF, CWH, IDF	CDF, CWH
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Longitarsus flavicornis (PDF, 680KB)	Root feeding flea beetle	1971	None	None
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Longitarsus gracilis	Root feeding flea beetle	Adventive, 2005	IDF	IDF
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Longitarsus jacobaeae (PDF, 809KB) (Italian strain) Field guide Appendix H	Root feeding flea beetle	1971	CDF, CWH, IDF	CDF, CWH
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Longitarsus jacobaeae (PDF, 916KB) (Swiss strain)	Root feeding flea beetle	2011	IDF	None
Tansy ragwort Senecio jacobaeae AKA Jacobaea vulgaris	Tyria jacobaeae (PDF, 928KB) Field guide Appendix G	Foliar feeding moth	1962	CDF, CWH, IDF	CDF, CWH, IDF
Whiplash hawkweed Pilosella flagellaris	Aulacidea subterminalis (PDF, 704KB)	Gall forming wasp	2011	ICH, IDF, SBS	ICH
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Brachypterolus pulicarius (PDF, 772KB)	Seed feeding beetle	Adventive	None	CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Calophasia lunula (PDF, 725KB)	Foliar feeding moth	1960s (on dalmatian)	BG, ICH, IDF, SBS	BG, ICH, IDF, PP
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Eteobalea intermediella (PDF, 462KB)	Root feeding moth	1992	BG	None
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Eteobalea seratella (PDF, 501KB)	Root feeding moth	1992	BG, IDF	None
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Mecinus janthinus (PDF, 692KB)	Stem mining beetle (weevil)	Moved from Dalmatian to yellow toadflax		IDF
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Rhinusa antirrhini (PDF, 883KB) (yellow toadflax strain) (previously Gymnetron antirrhini)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive	None	CWH, ICH, IDF, MS, PP, SBS
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Rhinusa linariae (PDF, 769KB) (previously Gymnetron linariae)	Root feeding beetle (weevil)	1997	BG, ICH, IDF, MS	IDF
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Rhinusa neta (PDF, 695KB) (previously Gymnetron neta, R. netum)	Seed feeding beetle (weevil)	Adventive	None	IDF, PP
Yellow/ Common toadflax Linaria vulgaris	Rhinusa pilosa (PDF, 727KB)	Stem galling weevil	2014	ICH, MS, PP, SBS	MS, PP, SBS

* The monitoring/dispersal Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) zones listed as positive for biocontrol agent survival include those where monitoring has been performed and the agent has been found. This information does not necessarily preclude the possibility of the biocontrol agents establishing in additional BEC zones.

**The categories and their definitions for the 'collectability' of biocontrol agents in B.C. are as follows:

No federal permit: Host-specificity tests were not performed and a federal permit from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was not obtained to import these agents into Canada. These agents are typically adventive. For more information see the Adventive Biocontrol Agents document and the text included on the bioagent page to determine whether the agent may/should be collected and redistributed
Not established: Repeated monitoring has revealed no sustained population of a released agent
Not available for general distribution: Agents that have been released, but are still under study in development as treatment tools. Historically, these agents were described as ‘primary’ in B.C.
Limited: Agents that are regularly establishing and exist as treatment tools but for which collection numbers are low, typically in the hundreds for any given site in a season. Historically, these agents could be described as either ‘secondary’ or ‘tertiary’
Mass: Agents that are present and exist as treatment tools and for which collectable numbers are typically plentiful, in the thousands, for any given site in a season. Historically, these agents could be described as either ‘secondary’ or ‘tertiary’
Passive distribution: Agents that are difficult to collect because of their biological traits, or they exist in low densities and therefore are left to self-distribute on their target invasive plant. Note: agents that become wide-spread due to collection and redistribution efforts may thereafter be left to passively redistribute further. Historically, these agents would often be described as ‘tertiary’

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