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Member Symposium

Plant-Insect Ecosystems

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Bridging Generations: Celebrating 50 Years of Innovative Biocontrol Programs in California & Beyond

SD11: Adventures in rearing Ceratapion basicorne, a new biocontrol agent for yellow star thistle

Sunday, November 9, 2025
11:25 AM - 12:00 PM Pacific
Location: Oregon Convention Center, Portland Ballroom 253, OCC
Poster Display

    Presenting Author(s)

  • MP

    Michael Pitcairn

    Senior Environmental Scientist - Supervisor
    California Department of Food and Agriculture
    Sacramento, California

    • Co-Author(s)

  • RM

    Robert Munoz

    CDFA
    Sacramento, California

  • NM

    Nathan Mercer

    Post Doctoral Scholar
    California Department of Food and Agriculture
    Sacramento, California

  • VP

    Viola Popescu

    California Department of Food and Agriculture
    Sacramento, California

  • Christopher Borkent (he/him/his)

    Sr. Environmental Scientist (Supervisor)
    California Department of Food and Agriculture
    Sacramento, California

Several methods are explored for colony production of Ceratapion basicorne, a recently approved biological control agent for control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis).  The objectives were to provide enough adult weevils to maintain the colony and to provide adults for mass release in the field. The roles of daylength, temperature, and length of diapause duration on egg production are discussed.