Anthonomus santacruzi is a species of weevil that is a promising biocontrol agent for Solanum mauritianum, a major ecological weed in high-rainfall regions of South Africa.[1]
The weevil exhibits a preference for S. mauritianum and possibly two South African native species of Solanum, namely S. linnaeanum and S. tomentosum.[2]
References
^Olckers, T. (2008). "Anthonomus santacruzi Hustache (Curculionidae), a new biological control agent for bugweed, Solanum mauritianum Scopoli, in South Africa, poses no risks to cotton production". African Entomology. 16: 137–139. doi:10.4001/1021-3589-16.1.137.
^Olckers, Terry (2003). "Assessing the risks associated with the release of a flowerbud weevil, Anthonomus santacruzi, against the invasive tree Solanum mauritianum in South Africa". Biological Control. 28 (3): 302–312. doi:10.1016/s1049-9644(03)00083-5.
