General/Historical:
Altica carduorum is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, subfamily Alticinae. The genus Altica is very large, with at least 200 known species that are worldwide in distribution.
Plant Host(s):
Cirsium arvense (Linnaeus) Scopoli
Description/Biology:
Species of Altica are typically metallic in color, and the adults are small beetles. Overwintered adults lay eggs in small groups on the undersurface of leaves in late spring and early summer. Larvae feed on the leaves, then leave the stems during the third instar and pupate in the soil and duff. Adults appear in August and are active until the first fall frost. There is one generation per year.
Collection Techniques:
Adults can be collected by hand from the host plants.
Feeding Damage:
Altica carduorum feeding by adults and larvae results in skeletonization of leaves. Adults prefer to feed on the upper surfaces of leaves, and larvae feed on the undersides.
Operational Status:
Altica carduorum was released in 14 states (CA, CO, DE, ID, IN, MD, MN, MT, NV, NJ, OR, SD, WA, WI) in the U.S. in 1966 and three states in 1970 (MD, NJ, and SD), but did not become established.
Contact Personnel:
Don Joley
Biological Control Program
Integrated Pest Control
California Department of Food and Agriculture
3288 Meadowview Road
Sacramento, CA 95832
Phone: (916) 262-2054
Peter Harris
Lethbridge Research Station
P.O. Box 3000, Main
Lethbridge, Alberta
T1J 4B1
S4P 3A2
Phone: (403) 327-4561