Field Experiment to Determine Host Specificity and Oviposition Behavior of Bangasternus orientalis and Bangasternus fausti (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Biological Control Candidates for Yellow Starthistle and Diffuse Knapweed

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Abstract
This research was conducted to determine host plant specificity and oviposition behavior of Bangasternus orientalis Capiomont and Bangasternus fausti (Reitter) in a freechoice field experiment. Labeled adult Bangasternus spp. were exposed equally to eight selected plant species and cultivars in a field experiment in Greece. Weevil/plant associations were quantified and weevils were reared and identified from randomized flower head samples from all blocks. Adult B. orientalis showed overwhelming preference for Centaurea solstitialis L., although some attraction and oviposition occurred on Centaurea diffusa Lam. and Centaurea calcitrapa L. Adult B. fausti showed strong preference for C. diffusa, but some attraction and oviposition occurred on C. calcitrapa and C. solstitialis. The evidence suggests that these Bangasternus spp. have a very restricted host-plant range, feeding only on a small number of plants in the genus Centaurea, and are potential candidates for biological control programs against Centaurea in California.