Phytophagous Insects on selected Compositae (Asteraceae) in a Central-Alpine Aerea (Paznauntal, North-Tyrol) by Manfred Pfeifer (1995)

ABSTRACT

In the Paznaun Valley (Central Alps of the Western Tyrol, Austria) 330 species of insects from 9 orders and 82 families were observed on Cirsium, Carduus, Carlina, Centaurea, Hypochoeris and Arnica (Asteraceae) using the following methods: 1) Watching and catching of insects 2) Examination of plants 3) Breeding (Rearing) 4) Causing insects to leave plants by themselves and automatically by a modified Berlese-Tullgren apparatus. Most insects were polyhageous or oligophageous and lived on different parts of the plants. The following taxa are specifically found on thistles (Asteraceae): Larinus (Col.: Curcul.), Agapanthia (Col.: Ceramb.), Cassida (Col.: Chrys.), Tephritidae (Dipt.), Brachycaudus cardui (Aphididae) and some Elachistidae, Tortricidae and Pterophoridae (Lep.). Phenological data of Larinus sturnus and 3 tephritid-species are presented and parasitation and flower visitation of insects on Asteraceae are described. The results were compared with the available literature.