The suitability ofOctotoma scabripennisGuér. andUroplata girardiPic (Col., Chrysomelidae) for the control ofLantana(Verbenaceae) in Australia

The host range and aspects of the biology of Hispine beetles recorded from plants in the genusLantanais reviewed. The host specificity ofOctotoma scabripennisGuér. andUroplata girardiPic was studied in Hawaii where these insects had been imported and established for biological control of the important weedL. camara. New techniques were employed in which feeding and oviposition behaviour was studied in field and simulated-field experiments embracing a wide range of plants interplanted amongst an abundance of the Hispines' normal host. Eesults indicated that both species are restricted almost entirely toL. camara, and subsequently these insects have been imported into and established in Australia. Both insects are particularly well suited to use as biological control agents and should be extremely useful in many countries whereL. camarais a weed.