INFESTATION OF THE MEDICINAL/ORNAMENTAL PLANT Alcea rosea L. (MALVACEAE) BY THE WEEVIL Rhopalapion longirostre OLIVIER, 1807 (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONOIDEA: APIONIDAE) IN OLTENIA (SOUTHERN ROMANIA)

Publication Type:Journal Article
:2011
Authors:V. Barca, Niculae, M., Panaitescu, D.
Journal:Oltenia Studii si Comunicari Stiintele Naturii
Volume:27
Pagination:80-84
Date Published:December
:1454-6914
:Rhopalapion longirostre
:

Alcea rosea (LINNAEUS, 1758) is an Asian medicinal/ornamental plant introduced in Romania probably by the Turks centuries ago, now being widely cultivated throughout Romania. Part of a larger study concerning the intensive culture of severa medicinal/technical Malvacean species, we have investigated the infestation of Alcea sp. by Rhopalapion longirostre (OLIVIER 1807) one of the 3 invasive weevils feeding on Malvaceae such as A. rosea, often causing considerable damage in leaves and seeds Although R. longirostre was cited in Europe for the first time from Romania, in 1875, its Romanian range has not been documented until now. We hereby present for the first time for Romania, a list of the locations where R. longirostre was found on A. rosea complemented by a grid map in UTM projection system of the species infestation in Oltenia, approximately between 22o 30'E [long dash] 24o 30'E meridians, and the 44o 40'N [long dash] 45o 40'N parallels; situated approximately between km 4900-5040N of the UTM projection zones 34 and 35. We also present some considerations about the chorology and the ecology of the species with reference to biotic and abiotic factors involved in its distribution and its potential to become a pest of other Malvaceae species of medicinal interest.

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