Rhinocyllus
Encyclopedia
Rhinocyllus is a small genus of true weevil
, with about 4 species described. This genus's host plant are thistles in the subtribe Carduinae. The genus's sister group is Bangasternus.
The genus's most infamous species is R. conicus which is a controversial agent of biological pest control
which has been used against noxious thistle
s in the genera Carduus
, Cirsium
, Onopordum
, and Silybum.
Curculionidae
Curculionidae is the family of the "true" weevils . It was formerly recognized in 1998 as the largest of any animal family, with over 40,000 species described worldwide at that time...
, with about 4 species described. This genus's host plant are thistles in the subtribe Carduinae. The genus's sister group is Bangasternus.
The genus's most infamous species is R. conicus which is a controversial agent of biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
which has been used against noxious thistle
Thistle
Thistle is the common name of a group of flowering plants characterised by leaves with sharp prickles on the margins, mostly in the family Asteraceae. Prickles often occur all over the plant – on surfaces such as those of the stem and flat parts of leaves. These are an adaptation that protects the...
s in the genera Carduus
Carduus
Carduus is a genus of about 90 species of thistles in the family Asteraceae, native to Europe, Asia and Africa. Carduus is Latin for a thistle....
, Cirsium
Cirsium
Cirsium is a genus of perennial and biennial flowering plants in the Asteraceae, one of several genera known commonly as thistles. They are more accurately known as Plume thistles. These differ from other thistle genera in having feathered hairs to their achenes...
, Onopordum
Onopordum
Onopordum L. is a genus of about 40 species of thistles belonging to the family Asteraceae, native to Europe , northern Africa, the Canary Islands, the Caucasus, and southwest and central Asia...
, and Silybum.