Euhrychiopsis lecontei
Encyclopedia
Euhrychiopsis lecontei is a type of weevil
that has been investigated as a potential biocontrol
agent for Eurasian water milfoil . It is found in the eastern and central United States
and western Canada
.
, undergoing true metamorphosis
. Development is temperature dependent, but the time to develop from egg to larvae is about 4 days, from larvae to pupae 13 days, and from pupae to adult 13 days.
Larvae are stem borers and damage plant tissue from about 7 cm from the tip of the plant.
s can reduce weevil populations below these levels. Supplementing weevil populations may enhance biocontrol, at least in the short-term until populations revert to their naturally low abundance. Milfioil weevils are offered for sale as a management option for Eurasian water milfoil by at least one firm. .
Weevil
A weevil is any beetle from the Curculionoidea superfamily. They are usually small, less than , and herbivorous. There are over 60,000 species in several families, mostly in the family Curculionidae...
that has been investigated as a potential biocontrol
BioControl
BioControl is a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by Springer Science+Business Media covering all aspects of basic and applied research in biological control of invertebrate, vertebrate, and weed pests, and plant diseases. The journal was established in 1956 as Entomophaga and published by...
agent for Eurasian water milfoil . It is found in the eastern and central United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and western Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Life cycle
E. lecontei is a holometabolous insectInsect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
, undergoing true metamorphosis
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is a biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching, involving a conspicuous and relatively abrupt change in the animal's body structure through cell growth and differentiation...
. Development is temperature dependent, but the time to develop from egg to larvae is about 4 days, from larvae to pupae 13 days, and from pupae to adult 13 days.
Larvae are stem borers and damage plant tissue from about 7 cm from the tip of the plant.
Use as a Biocontrol
Milfoil weevils occur in natural populations in much of North America, but rarely reach sufficient densities to suppress water milfoil infestations. Studies indicate that for effective control a density of about 1 to 2 weevils per stem of milfoil is necessary . There is evidence that fish such as bluegillBluegill
The Bluegill is a species of freshwater fish sometimes referred to as bream, brim, or copper nose. It is a member of the sunfish family Centrarchidae of the order Perciformes.-Range and distribution:...
s can reduce weevil populations below these levels. Supplementing weevil populations may enhance biocontrol, at least in the short-term until populations revert to their naturally low abundance. Milfioil weevils are offered for sale as a management option for Eurasian water milfoil by at least one firm. .