نتایح جستجو

Classical Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolius) in Florida1 J.P. Cuda, J.C. Medal, D.H. Habeck, J.H. Pedrosa-Macedo and M. Vitorino 2 Brazilian peppertree, Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), also known as Christmasberry, Florida Holly, and aroeira...

Common and giant salvinia (Salvinia spp.) A tiny black weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae, is the only insect that has been released as a biological control agent of giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta). Adventive weevils of one biotype that were discovered in Florida in 1960 are used to control common...

The melaleuca stem-gall midge (Lophodiplosis trifida) was released in 2008, and establishment of this insect has been confirmed. Adults are tiny, fragile flies with long legs and antennae. They do not feed and are short-lived. Females are recognized by the red-orange eggs visible through the...

The melaleuca bud-gall fly (Fergusonina turneri) was first released in Florida in 2005. This insect is associated with a parasitic nematode. The female fly deposits her eggs, along with juvenile nematodes, into developing melaleuca buds. The nematodes induce gall formation and the fly larvae...

The melaleuca psyllid (Boreioglycaspis melaleucae) was released in 2002. Itspread very quickly due to wind dispersal and a short generation time of 1.5 months. Damage to melaleuca is caused primarily by the nymphs, which attack older leaves and woody stems as well as new leaves and seedlings...

The melaleuca leaf weevil (Oxyops vitiosa) was imported from Australia in 1992, and released in 1997 to slow the spread of melaleuca. The insect feeds on the young leaves, stems, and buds of the trees and interferes with normal plant processes such as seed production and plant growth. A new...

Melaleuca (Melaleuca quinquenervia) Four insects have been released in Florida to combat melaleuca, an invasive weedy tree intentionally imported from Australia in 1906. Two of these biological control insects are well-established and significantly impacting melaleuca. The third insect failed to...

The water lettuce leaf moth (Spodoptera pectinicornis) is native to Southeast Asia and was imported from Thailand. The caterpillar was first released in Florida in 1990, but failed to establish. Fire ant predation also may have prevented establishment of the moth. In its native range, augmentive...

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) Two South American insects have been released in Florida to combat water lettuce. Only one of these insects is established, but it has not adequately controlled or stressed the plant populations in most situations The water lettuce leaf weevil (Neohydronomus...

Water hyacinth mite (Orthogalumna terebrantis) is an arachnid native to the U.S. In high numbers, these mites can desiccate water hyacinth foliage and cause leaves to turn brown. Severe damage may occur in small areas, but rarely does this mite attain high enough populations to provide area wide...

The water hyacinth planthopper (Megamalus scutellaris) was released in Florida in 2010. Both the nymphs and adults feed on the sap of water hyacinth, and the females deposit eggs into the leaf tissue. The insect's population increases rapidly, which will enable it to quickly impact water...

The water hyacinth moth (Niphograpta (=Sameodes) albiguttalis) was first released in 1977. The larvae feed by tunneling into the petioles of the younger, bulbous form of water hyacinth. The moth has been less successful as a biological control agent because it disperses rapidly, has patchy...

The chevroned water hyacinth weevil (Neochetina bruchi) is very similar to N. eichhorniae. It was first released in 1974. Both weevils reduce plant vigor and seed production and are damaging to young water hyacinth stands. Studies have shown a substantial decrease in plant growth when the insect...

The mottled water hyacinth weevil (Neochetina eichhorniae) was first released in 1972. The adults feed on the leaves and petioles of water hyacinth, where they produce characteristic feeding scars. The larvae tunnel in the petioles and crown of the plant. The mottled water hyacinth weevil has...

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Three biological control insects have been imported, studied, and released to control invasive water hyacinth, a floating macrophyte that was introduced to the U.S. during in the late 1800s. Together, these insects reduce the size and vigor of water...

Chinese grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), a fish from China, is one of the most effective biological control agents for hydrilla and a number of other aquatic plants. The voracious herbivore prefers hydrilla and 2-25 fish can completely control one acre of the plant. Unfortunately, the fish...

The adventive hydrilla moth (Parapoynx diminutalis) from Asia probably entered the US via the aquarium trade. It was discovered feeding on hydrilla in Florida in 1976. The life cycle ofParapoynx is completed in 4-5 weeks. The moth was never approved for release, but large populations of hydrilla...

The hydrilla miner (Cricotopus lebetis) is a midge that has been associated with hydrilla declines in several Florida locations since 1992. Developing larvae mine the growing shoot tips of hydrilla, which severely injures or kills them. The feeding damage alters the plant’s architecture by...

The hydrilla stem borer (Bagous hydrillae) was imported from Australia and released in 1991. The larvae burrow into the submerged stems of hydrilla, causing them to fragment. This insect also failed to establish as the stem fragments require a dewatered sandy shoreline for larvae to develop...

The Australian hydrilla leaf-mining fly (Hydrellia balciunasi) was found in Australia and first released in the U.S. in 1988. Although it has failed to establish on hydrilla in Florida, a small population of this insect has persisted in East Texas following its release.