Dalmatian Toadflax
Biological Control Agents
There is still relatively little of this weed in the county, being found primarily in the Lander area having escaped from ornamental plantings. We are increasingly seeing toadflax roadsides and rangeland. There have been three bio-control agents released on Dalmatian toadflax in Fremont County.
The toadflax flower-feeding beetle, Brachypterolus pulicarius, and the toadflax moth, Calophasia lunula, were introduced in the mid 1990’s.
Brachypterolus pulicarius has become well established in the Lander area, but there has been no evidence that Calophasia lunula has become established anywhere in the county.
For more specific information on Brachypterolus pulicarius, or Calophasia lunula, visit Cornell University's Bio-control website here and here.
The toadflax stem weevil, Mecinus janthinus, was introduced in 2003.
For more specific information on Mecinus janthinus,visit Cornell University's Bio-control website.
Both the flower-feeding beetle and the stem weevil have become well established and we are able to collect and redistribute the weevil to other sites. The toadflax moth has never been recovered.
For more information on Bio-control of Dalmatian Toadflax visit:
Cornell University's Biological Control Website- Toadflax
California Dept. of Food and Agriculture-Toadflax info
