Evidence of Establishment of Bagous hydrillae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a Biological Control Agent of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitales: Hydrocharitaceae) in North America?
Abstract
The semi-aquatic weevil Bagous hydrillae was released during 1991–1996 at 19 sites in 4 states in attempts to control the aquatic weed hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata. Fourteen of the sites were in Florida, 2 each in Texas and Georgia and one site in Alabama. Over 320,000 adult weevils were included in these releases. Despite the fact that a few adults were recovered as late as 4.5 yr post-release, presence of permanent, self-perpetuating populations was never confirmed. Then, during 2009 adult B. hydrillae were collected in southern Louisiana, at least 580 km from the nearest release site and 13 yr after attempts to establish this insect had terminated. This suggests that earlier recoveries were indicative of successful establishment and that this weevil species has persisted and dispersed widely in the southeastern USA. Nonetheless, there is no evidence that B. hydrillae has had a suppressive effect on hydrilla.El gorgojo semi-acuático, Bagous hydrillae, fue liberado durante 1991–1996 en 19 sitios en 4 Estados en un intento para controlar la maleza acuática, Hydrilla verticillata. Catorce de los sitios estaban en Florida, 2 en cada uno de los estados de Texas y Georgia y un sitio en Alabama. Se liberaron más de 320,000 gorgojos adultos. Apesar del hecho de que pocos adultos fueron recuperados tan tarde como 4.5 años después de la liberación, la presencia de poblaciones permanentes, auto perpútuas nunca fue confirmado. Luego, durante el año 2009 se recolectaron adultos de B. hydrillae en el sur de Louisiana, por lo menos 580 km del lugar más cercano de donde fueron liberados y 13 años después de haber terminado los intentos de establecer este insecto en los Estados Unidos. Esto sugiere que las recuperaciones anteriores son indicadores del establecimiento exitoso y que esta especie de gorgojo ha persistido y se dispersaron ampliamente en el sudeste de los EE.UU. Sin embargo, no hay evidencia de que el gorgojo ha tenido un efecto supresor sobre la maleza.
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