Author
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Pemberton, Robert |
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BODLE, MICHAEL - SFWMD |
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Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 11/24/2008 Publication Date: 3/1/2009 Citation: Pemberton, R.W., Bodle, M.J. 2009. Native North American Azolla weevil (Stenopelmus rufinasus) uses invasive Old World Azolla pinnata as a host plant.. Florida Entomologist 92(1):153-155. Interpretive Summary: Azolla pinnata has recently invaded Southeastern Florida from the Old World tropics, and has the potential to become an important weed. Eradication efforts with herbicides are underway but the plant may be difficult to eradicate. For this reason it is prudent to develop other potential control methods including biological control. Collections of A. pinnata plants were made to attempt to locate specialist insect feeders. Collected plants were placed in Berlese funnels to extract insects and set up in an aquarium and rearing tank with screened tops. Adults of the weevil Stenopelmus rufinasus, which is known only to feed on Azolla species, were found in the aquarium three weeks after the collection. They were feeding and mating on, and laying eggs in the A. pinnata plants, and bred continuous on the plants. Because no adults were present in plants when collected, the weevil must have been inside the plants as eggs and larvae. The weevil’s normal host plant A. carolinana was absent from the collection site, which indicates that the insect was breeding on the weed A. pinnata. Stenopelmus rufinasus was used as a highly successful biological control agent for the invasive weed A. filiculoides in South Africa. It could contribute the control of A. pinnata in Florida and elsewhere in the US where the weed might spread. Technical Abstract: No Technical Abstract |
