Environmental Entomology (1984) 13, 1478-1482

A.D. Wright and T.D. Center (1984)
Predicting population intensity of adult Neochetina eichhorniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from incidence of feeding on leaves of waterhyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes
Environmental Entomology 13 (6), 1478-1482
Abstract: Examination of data from Florida (United States) and Queensland (Australia) revealed a close relationship between numbers of adult waterhyacinth weevils (Neochetina eichhorniae Warner) and the number of feeding scars on waterhyacinth leaves. Regression analysis produced nearly identical results for samples from both countries even though data collection techniques differed. The empirical formula I = 0.0366 S^0.775, where I = weevils per plant and S = feeding scars per lamina, effectively predicted I for both countries. The errors associated with the prediction of weevil populations using this formula are discussed. This technique for estimating adult weevil populations is suitable for use in other regions where monitoring of biological control of waterhyacinth is undertaken; its application, advantages, and limitations are discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): A.D. (Tony) Wright, Ted D. Center

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
surveys/distribution/isolation
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Pontederia crassipes (weed)		U.S.A. (SE)
	Pontederia crassipes (weed)		Australia (NT+QLD)
Neochetina eichhorniae (weed bioagent)	Pontederia crassipes (weed)		U.S.A. (SE)
Neochetina eichhorniae (weed bioagent)	Pontederia crassipes (weed)		Australia (NT+QLD)