The importance of molecular tools in classical biological control of weeds: two case studies with yellow starthistle candidate biocontrol agents.

1 Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency, Via del Bosco 10, 00060 Sacrofano, Rome, Italy. 2 University of Rome ‘La Sapienza’, Department of Animal and Human Biology, Viale dell’Universita 32, 00185 Rome, Italy. 3 European Biological Control Laboratories, USDA-ARS, 34980 Montferrier sur Lez, France. 4 ENEA C.R. Casaccia, s.p. 25, Via Anguillarese 301, 00060 S. Maria di Galeria, Rome, Italy. 5 Universita degli Studi—L’Aquila, Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, Via Vetoio snc, 67010 Coppito, L’Aquila, Italy. 6 Zoological Institute RAS, Laboratory of Insect Systematics, Universitetskaya nab., 1 St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia. 7 Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA, c/o Smithsonian Institution, P.O. Box 37012, National Museum of Natural History, MRC-168, Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA. 8 USDA-ARS, 800 Buchanan Street, Albany, CA 94710, USA. Corresponding author: G. Antonini . © CAB International 2008 The importance of molecular tools in classical biological control of weeds: two case studies with yellow starthistle candidate biocontrol agents