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Citizen science reveals the establishment of Chamaesphecia empiformis (Esper) (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), a long-lost biological control agent for Euphorbia cyparissias (Euphorbiaceae), in Ontario, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2023

Alec McClay Open the ORCID record for Alec McClay [Opens in a new window] ,
Robert S. Bourchier ,
Jean-François Landry Open the ORCID record for Jean-François Landry [Opens in a new window] ,
Catherine E. Morris Open the ORCID record for Catherine E. Morris [Opens in a new window]  and
Ivo Toševski Open the ORCID record for Ivo Toševski [Opens in a new window]
Alec McClay*
Affiliation:
McClay Ecoscience, 12 Roseglen Private, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 1B6, Canada
Robert S. Bourchier
Affiliation:
Lethbridge Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4B1, Canada
Jean-François Landry
Affiliation:
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids, and Nematodes, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa Research and Development Centre, C.E.F., Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6, Canada
Catherine E. Morris
Affiliation:
(Emeritus) Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 1053 Carling Ave, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Y 4E9, Canada
Ivo Toševski
Affiliation:
Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Banatska 33, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia CABI, Rue des Grillons 1, 2800 Delémont, Switzerland
*
Corresponding author: Alec McClay; Email: alec.mcclay@shaw.ca
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Abstract

The European root-boring moth, Chamaesphecia empiformis (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), was released in Ontario, Canada, in 1971 and 1989 as a biological control agent for the perennial invasive weed cypress spurge, Euphorbia cyparissias Linnaeus (Euphorbiaceae). Until recently, the moth was believed to have failed to establish. Beginning in 2015, images posted on citizen science platforms, including BugGuide, iNaturalist, and Facebook groups, indicated that C. empiformis was in fact established. We have confirmed its presence in eastern Ontario by morphological and molecular identification of field-collected adults and eggs. This may be the longest-known lapse between the release of a weed biological control agent and confirmation of its establishment. Citizen science may provide valuable records documenting the establishment and dispersal of biological control agents.

Type
Scientific Note
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 155 , 2023 , e29
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Copyright
© Crown Copyright - His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Entomological Society of Canada

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Footnotes

Subject editor: Delano Lewis

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