How was Aphthona flava used to control leafy spurge?

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Coleoptera African goliath beetle (*Goliathus giganteus*).

Aphthona flava is a species of flea beetle within the order Coleoptera that has been utilized as a biological control agent to manage populations of the invasive weed known as leafy spurge.

In this capacity, the beetle was released in the United States and Canada to help suppress the spread of the plant, which is considered a significant agricultural and environmental pest.1