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Centaurea diffusa
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====Biological control==== [[Biological control]] involves the introduction of organisms, usually natural competitors of the invasive species, into the invaded environment in order to control the invasive species. Since 1970, 12 insects have been released to control diffuse knapweed. Of these 12, 10 have become established, and 4 are widely established (''[[Urophora affinis]]'' and ''[[Urophora quadrifasciata]]'', the root boring beetle, ''[[Sphenoptera jugoslavica]]'', and the weevil ''[[Larinus minutus]]'').<ref name="Myers">{{cite web |url = http://culter.colorado.edu:1030/~tims/Myers09.pdf |title = Successful biological control of diffuse knapweed, ''Centaurea diffusa'', in British Columbia, Canada |author = Judith H. Myers |publisher = Biological Control |year = 2009 |access-date = 2009-12-18 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100611075416/http://culter.colorado.edu:1030/~tims/Myers09.pdf# |archive-date = 2010-06-11 |url-status = dead }}</ref> Research based on simulation models have shown that for biocontrol agents to be effective, they must kill their host, otherwise plants can compensate by having increased seedling survival.<ref>Myers, J.H., Risley, C., 2000. Why reduced seed production is not necessarily translated into successful biological weed control. In: Spencer, N. (Ed.), Proceedings X. International Symposium Biological Control of Weeds. Montana State University, Bozeman, MO, pp. 569β581.</ref> Some of the more commonly utilized biocontrol agents are the [[Lesser knapweed flower weevil]] and the [[Knapweed root weevil]]. Individuals of these species lay their eggs on the seed heads of both diffuse and [[spotted knapweed]]. When the larvae emerge from the [[Egg (biology)|egg]]s, they feed upon the seeds of their host plant. As the females of this species can create from 28 to 130 eggs and each larva can consume an entire seed head, an adequate population of ''Larinus minutus'' can devastate entire stands of knapweed. The adult weevils feed upon the stems, branches, leaves and undeveloped flower buds. It is native to Greece and is now found in Montana, Washington, Idaho and Oregon.<ref>Groppe, K. 1990. ''Larinus minutus'' Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a suitable candidate for the biological control of diffuse and spotted knapweed in North America. In: Final Report C.A.B International Institute of Biological Control. Delemont, Switzerland, p. 30.</ref> Insects are also used for biocontrol, such as the [[Agapeta zoegana|Yellow-winged knapweed root moth]] (''[[Agapeta zoegana]]''), and several species of Tephritid flies, mostly ''[[Urophora affinis]]'' and ''[[Urophora quadrifasciata]]''.<ref name="Myers" />
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