A PETITION FOR THE INTRODUCTION AND FIELD RELEASE OF THE CHONDRILLA ROOT MOTH, BRADYRRHOA GILVEOLELLA (TREITSCHKE), FOR THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF RUSH SKELETONWEED IN NORTH AMERICA Submitted by J. L. Littlefield1, J. Birdsall2, J. Helsley3, and G. Markin4 1 Research Entomologist. Department of Entomology, Montana State University, PO Box 173020, Bozeman, MT 59717- 3020. Phone: (406) 994-4722, Fax: (406) 994-5587, e-mail:
[email protected] 2 Botanist. U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-2780. Phone: (406) 994-1784, Fax: (406) 994-5916, e-mail: jbirdsall/
[email protected] 3 Research Assistant. Department of Entomology, Montana State University, PO Box 173020, Bozeman, MT 59717-3020. 4 Research Entomologist. U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-2780. Phone: (406) 994-4892, Fax: (406) 994-5916. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT 1 I. INTRODUCTION 1 Nature of the Problem 1 1. History of Introduction and Spread 1 2. Present Distribution in North America 1 3. Sectors Affected and Magnitude of the Problem 1 4. Consensus that the Weed is a Suitable Target for Control 2 Proposed Action 2 II. TARGET WEED INFORMATION 2 Taxonomy of the Target Weed 2 1. Classification 2 2. Identifier 2 3. Problems in identification or taxonomy 3 4. Origin and location of herbarium specimens and the date of depository 3 Description of the Target Weed 3 Distribution of the Target Weed 3 1. Native Range 3 2. Worldwide Areas of Introduction, Pattern of Movement, and Limit 5 3.