''Oberea erythrocephala'', the leafy spurge stem boring beetle or red-headed leafy spurge stem borer is a species of

longhorn beetle The longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), also known as long-horned or longicorns, are a large family of beetles, with over 35,000 species described. Most species are characterized by extremely long antennae, which are often as long as or longer than ...

that is a

biological control agent Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

for

leafy spurge Leafy spurge may refer to several species of plant in the genus ''Euphorbia'', including: * '' Euphorbia esula'', native to central and southern Europe * ''Euphorbia virgata ''Euphorbia virgata'', commonly known as leafy spurge, wolf's milk leaf ...

. It is an effective killer of the pest but only works on certain strains of leafy spurge, namely the subgenus ''Esula'' of the genus ''Euphorbia''. Because of this, the beetle is considered as secondary in leafy spurge control to five species of Aphthona flea beetle.

Morphology

Leafy spurge stem boring beetle adults are slender, elongate beetles. Their hind wings are grayish-black, and the head is red. The species also has black eyes. Larvae are also slender and elongate but have white and black heads.

Behavior

Leafy spurge stem boring beetles are solitary. They come together to mate between late May and June. Females lay their eggs from late June to mid-July. The beetles have a singular diet, only eating certain varieties of leafy spurge. Although being well-established in several states, they are not usually found in large numbers. The most reliable indicator of the presence of leafy spurge stem boring beetles is ring-like grooves chewed around leafy spurge stems.

Pest control

Leafy spurge stem boring beetles are mainly used for control of the leafy spurge. They are combined with about 10 other Eurasian insect species, and are used to biologically control leafy spurge. The approval for the introduction of the beetle species occurred in 1980. Fifteen years later, the leafy spurge stem boring beetle was widely distributed in at least fifteen US states and several Canadian provinces. Although the beetle is an introduced, non-native species to the US and Canada, it has not been detrimental to the ecosystems there in any way. This is probably due to the limited diet the species has.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q4045619 erythrocephala Beetles described in 1776 Beetles of North America