ESTABLISHMENT OF UROPHORA-QUADRIFASCIATA (DIPTERA, TEPHRITIDAE) AND CHRYSOLINA-QUADRIGEMINA (COLEOPTERA, CHRYSOMELIDAE) IN PORTIONS OF EASTERN UNITED-STATES

This paper presents the first recorded distribution in the eastern Uni ted States of the introduced weed biocontrol agents Urophora quadrifas ciata (Diptera: Tephritidae) and Chrysolina quadrigemina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). The seed-head fly U. quadrifasciata, released in North America in the early 1970's for the control of spotted and diffuse kn apweed (Centaurea spp.), is recorded from numerous localities in New Y ork, Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island , Connecticut, and New Jersey. The leaf beetle C. quadrigemina, releas ed in the mid-1940's for the control of St. Johnswort (Hypericum perfo ratum), is also documented from the northeastern U.S. with records fro m New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland. A brief r eview of the history and background information on the success of thes e two weed biocontrol agents in North America are presented. Each of t he biocontrol agents are also briefly described.