Florida Entomologist (1994) 77, 221-230

K.E. Godfrey, L.W.J. Anderson, S.D. Perry and N. Dechoretz (1994)
Overwintering and establishment potential of Bagous affinis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in northern California
Florida Entomologist 77 (2), 221-230
Abstract: Bagous affinis Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) has potential as a biological control agent for subterranean turions (also called tubers) of hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle; Hydrocharitaceae). The ability of B. affinis to overwinter and establish was investigated at 2 sites in northern California; a pond in Calaveras County and the Chowchilla River in Madera County. In cage studies conducted at the pond, B. affinis survived the winter for 2 seasons. After releases at the pond, B. affinis successfully reproduced and survived during the summer of 1992. Weevil larvae had damaged both sentinel and native tubers at the site. In the spring, following the release of B. affinis at the pond, a light trap and baited shelter traps were used to detect weevils that had overwintered naturally at the site. No weevils were recovered. At the Chowchilla River site, B. affinis failed to establish, possibly due to a lack of tubers in the section of the river where the releases were made.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Full text of article
Database assignments for author(s): Lars Anderson

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Hydrilla verticillata (weed)		U.S.A. (SE)
Bagous affinis (weed bioagent)	Hydrilla verticillata (weed)		U.S.A. (SW)