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Host specificity and biology of the weevilNeohydronomus affinis [Coleoptera: Curculionidae] a biological control agent ofPistia stratiotes

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Abstract

Waterlettuce,Pistia stratiotes L., has been successfully controlled in Australia with the weevil,Neohydronomus affinis Hustache. In this study, the weevil was tested in quarantine against 34 plant species in 27 families. In non-replicated no-choice tests, it fed and oviposited on 3 species of duckweeds [(Lemna minor L.,Spirodela punctata (Meyer) Thomps.,S. polyrhiza (L.) Schleid.], frogbit [(Limnobium spongia (Bosc.) Steud.], mosquitofern (Azolla caroliniana Willd) and waterfern (Salvinia mimima Baker). Feeding also occurred on golden club (Orontium aquaticum L.) and one egg was laid on the terrestrial panda plant (Kalanchoe tomentosa Baker). Plants oviposited and fed upon were retested in choice tests. The weevils then fed and oviposited exclusively on waterlettuce.

Various aspects of weevil biology, including larval feeding and mining, plant response to weevil attack, and adult behavior are discussed.

Résumé

Un charançon,Neohydronomus pulchellus [Col: Curculionidae], introduit d'Amérique du Sud, contrôle efficacement les populations dePistia stratiotes en Australie. Ce charançon a été importé d'Australie en Floride où en Quarantaine il a été essayé contre 34 espèces de plantes appartenant à 27 familles. Dans les essais d'alimentation sans choix non reproduits, le charançon se nourrit en plus dePistia, des plantes aquatiques:Lemna minor L., Spirodela punctata (Meyer),Orontium aquaticum L.,Limnobium stoloniferum (G. W. Meyer),Azolla caroliniana Willd etSalvinia minima Baker. L'alimentation sur les deux dernières espèces était peu importante. Dans les essais de ponte sans choix, le charançon a pondu seulement sur les plantes aquatiques, à l'exception d'un œuf déposé sur l'espèce terrestre:Kalanchoe tomentosa Baker; les espèces aquatiques étaient:L. stoloniferum, A. caroliniana, S. minima et 2 espèces deLemnaceae.

Tous les œufs semblaient le résultat d'une ponte effectuée au hasard ou fortuite; aucun œuf n'a été introduit dans la feuille comme c'est le cas pour la ponte du charançon dans les feuilles dePistia. Les plantes ayant reçu la ponte et permis l'alimentation du charançon ont été testées à nouveau par des essais avec choix,Pistia était la seule espèce attrayante pour la ponte et l'alimentation.

Divers aspects de la biologie du charançon, incluant le comportement des larves mineuses, leur alimentation, la réponse des plantes aux attaques du charançon et le comportement de l'adulte ont été discutés.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Entomology and Nematology, IFAS, University of Florida, 32611, Gainesville, FL, U.S.A.

    C. R. Thompson & D. H. Habeck

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  1. C. R. Thompson
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  2. D. H. Habeck
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Florida Agric. Expt. J. series No 8580.

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Thompson, C.R., Habeck, D.H. Host specificity and biology of the weevilNeohydronomus affinis [Coleoptera: Curculionidae] a biological control agent ofPistia stratiotes . Entomophaga 34, 299–306 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372469

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372469

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