''Sitona lepidus'' or clover root weevil is a species of
weevil
Weevils are beetles belonging to the superfamily Curculionoidea, known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small – less than in length – and herbivorous. Approximately 97,000 species of weevils are known. They belong to several fa ...
found in Europe. It has now spread to North America and New Zealand.
''S. lepidus'' was found in
New Zealand
New Zealand () is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and List of islands of New Zealand, over 600 smaller islands. It is the List of isla ...
pastures in 1996 and poses a threat to farm productivity since it damages the clover plant. The use of the parasitic wasp ''
Microctonus aethiopoides'' as a
biological control
Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, whether pest animals such as insects and mites, weeds, or pathogens affecting animals or plants by using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or o ...
is under way in
Southland, New Zealand
Southland () is New Zealand's southernmost Regions of New Zealand, region. It consists of the southwestern portion of the South Island and includes Stewart Island. Southland is bordered by the culturally similar Otago, Otago Region to the north ...
.
References
External links
Clover Root Weevilat the New Zealand Landcare Trust
(New Zealand)
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4473358
Entiminae
Agricultural pest insects
Beetles described in 1834