Neochetina eichhorniae
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| Neochetina eichhorniae Warner, 1970 |
The mottled water hyacinth weevil, Neochetina eichhorniae, has been introduced to countries worldwide to control the spread of the weed water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes. The weevil's life cycle is approximately three to four months (dependent on environmental factors). It was introduced to the United States in Florida in 1972, and due to its successful control of water hyacinth was later introduced to other states.
The adults produce characteristic feeding scars on the leaves and petioles. In the larval stage, the insect tunnels into the petioles and the crown of the plant. This feeding results in plant stress, reduced flowers and seeds, and less vigorous growth. It is desirable to control water hyacinth because it is highly invasive and has a tendency to choke major waterways, which can result in a number of undesirable biological and economic effects.
Neochetina eichhorniae is native to Argentina and neighboring areas of South America. It is primarily a brownish-gray with characteristic brown mottling. It measures approximately 3.5 mm in length, excluding the head and antennae.
