Salvinia weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae

   The salvinia weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae, is a proven biocontrol agent for Salvinia molesta (Thomas and Room 1986b; Cilliers 1991). This tiny insect causes immense damage to plants by tunneling through rhizomes and feeding on terminal buds. Such feeding acts to greatly reduce large infestations of S. molesta and to maintain low plant population levels (Sands et al. 1983; Sands and Schotz 1985; Room et al. 1981).

   The salvinia weevil ranges naturally in southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay and northern Argentina (Wibmer and O'Brien 1986; Calder and Sands 1985). The weevils experimentally released October 2001 by USDA/ARS in Texas and Louisiana were imported under permit from Australia, where they are reared and used for biological control of Salvinia molesta.
 

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