Marek-Spartz, Mary2022-11-142022-11-142022-07https://hdl.handle.net/11299/243144University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation. July 2022. Major: Entomology. Advisors: George Heimpel, Roger Becker. 1 computer file (PDF); xviii, 145 pages.Alliaria petiolata, known by the common name garlic mustard, is an invasive biennial forb of North American forests that outcompetes native plants, inhibits tree seedling growth, and costs millions of dollars in management efforts annually. Biological control with natural enemies is one alternative to pesticide use in forest ecosystems. Two weevils from Europe are prioritized as biological control candidates of garlic mustard. In the U.S., weed biological control agents are assessed for their potential risk to native habitats and for their efficacy on the target plant populations before approval for release. As part of this process, I examine the potential distribution of two garlic mustard weevils through lab studies and ecological niche modeling as well as anticipate levels of target plant suppression through population modeling.enThesis or Dissertation