BIOLOGY AND HOST-SPECIFICITY OF CHAMAESPHECIA-MYSINIFORMIS (LEPIDOPTERA, SESIIDAE), A POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL AGENT OF MARRUBIUM-VULGARE (LAMIACEAE) IN AUSTRALIA

The biology of the rhizophagous clearwing moth Chamaesphecia mysinifor mis Rambur and its specificity to Marrubium vulgare L. (Lamiaceae) (ho rehound), a serious introduced weed in southern Australia, were studie d in France. Adults emerged in late spring during the morning and bega n mating on the same day, usually in the mid to late afternoon. Eggs w ere laid among flower clusters, with females laying an average of 96 /- 2.41 (rang, 1-268) with an overall hatch success of 79%. In no-choi ce, host specificity tests, first instar larvae attacked only four spe cies of Marrubium, along with Ballota nigra L. and Stachys arvensis L. This high level of specificity and the high mortality of the target p lant in its native range make this moth a promising biological control agent of horehound in Australia.