Bromeliad-eating Weevils as Pests of Bromeliads
Teresa M. Cooper1, Ronald D. Cave1, and J. Howard Frank2
1Indian River Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Ft. Pierce, FL, USA2Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Bromeliads.
Order: Bromeliales Family: Bromeliaceae
3 subfamilies:
PitcairnioideaeBromelioideaeTillandsioideae
Arose ˜65 million years ago.
Neotropical distribution.
One species on the West coast of Africa.
Importance of Bromeliads.Adapted to harsh environments
Slow-growing, rosette form.
Importance:
Habitat.
Phytotelmata.Water source.
Nutrient cycle.
Food source.Humans (pineapple).Bromeliad-eating weevils.
Bromeliad-eating weevils eat bromeliads.
Bromeliad-eating weevils are specialist herbivores of bromeliads.
The larval stage mines the stems, inflorescences, or fruits of bromeliads
Bromeliad-eating weevils.10 known genera and 42 known species.
Cactophagus, Metamasius, Paradiaphorus, Baris, Bromogeraeus, Diastethus, Gravatageraeus, Melampius, Cholus, Parisoschoenus.
Neotropical distribution.
How destructive are bromeliad-eating weevils?
Bromeliad-eating weevils are not destructive to bromeliad populations in their homeland.
Bromeliad-eating weevils can become a pest on:
Pineapple plants.
Ornamental bromeliads.
Wild bromeliad populations in new lands.
Bromeliad-eating weevils: Pests of pineapple plants.Cultivated pineapples have been infested by bromeliad-eating weevils in South and Central America, the West Indies, and Indonesia.
Six species have been found attacking pineapple.
They are:
Cactophagus miniatopunctatusMetamasius callizonaMetamasius dimidiatipennisMetamasius ritchieiCholus spinipesCholus vaurieae
Infestations happen in monocultures and in fields that are abandoned and/or located on the edge of disturbed habitat.
Metamasius callizona: A destructive bromeliad-eating weevil.
From Mexico and Guatemala.
Invasive in Florida on native bromeliad populations.
Metamasius callizona: A destructive bromeliad-eating weevil.
Particularly destructive to Tillandsia utriculata and Tillandsia fasciculata.
Metamasius callizona: A destructive bromeliad-eating weevil.
Metamasius callizona: A destructive bromeliad-eating weevil.
“Twenty-one native species, consisting of 12 bromeliads and at least 9 (perhaps 19) invertebrates are at risk of extinction in Florida…at least 6 of them (1 bromeliad and 5 invertebrates) seem to be precinctive.”
Frank and Fish 2008
Tillandsia simulata
Bromeliad-eating weevils: Pests of ornamental bromeliads.
Way for bromeliad-eating weevils to immigrate.
Infestations have been found in shade houses and greenhouses in South and Central America and in Florida.
Metamasius callizona arrived in Florida hitch-hiking on ornamental bromeliads.
Three species have been found at US ports of entry on shipments of ornamental bromeliads. They are:
Metamasius callizonaMetamasius quadrilineatusMetamasius sellatus
Biological control versus chemical control.
Chemical control is possible for pineapple and ornamental growers, but is not possible for controlling an established, invasive bromeliad-eating weevil on native, wild bromeliad populations.
Lixadmontia franki: A parasitoid of bromeliad-eating weevils.
Only one parasitoid of bromeliad-eating weevils is known.
It is a tachinid fly, Lixadmontia franki.
The fly is a biological control agent for Metamasius callizona.
Lixadmontia franki is native to Honduras.
Biological control program to control Metamasius callizona.
= Lixadmontia franki is being reared and studied at the Hayslip Biological Control Research and Containment Laboratory at UF-IRREC in Ft. Pierce.
More than 3,000 flies at 8 sites have been released in Florida to control the weevil.
So far, only one recovery of the fly has been made, after the first release in June 2007.
We are continuing to do fly releases and to study the fly.
Other parasitoids of bromeliad-eating weevils.
Searches for parasitoids of bromeliad-eating weevils have been made in:
MexicoBelizeGuatemalaHondurasPanamaPeruParaguayFlorida, USA
No other parasitoids have been found.
Bromeliad-eating weevils as a problem.When and where might problems arise?
When a bromeliad-eating weevil immigrates to a new land and becomes established on wild bromeliad populations not adapted to that species of weevil.
Anywhere bromeliad populations grow naturally.
Bromeliad distribution. Weevil distribution.
Bromeliad-eating weevils as a problem.When and where might problems arise?
Where pineapples are cultivated.
World production: 25% total production of tropical fruits.Major producers: Brazil, Thailand, Philippines, Costa Rica.Major exporters: Thailand, Costa Rica, Indonesia.Major importers: USA, Europe, Japan.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Historically grown in Florida and Hawaii.
Where ornamental bromeliads are grown.Growers of ornamental bromeliads and pineapple growers can control the weevil with chemical control and other agricultural practices.
How and where are bromeliad-eating weevils a problem?With the continued movement of ornamental bromeliads betweencountries and the difficult task of inspecting plants at borders, thepotential exists for the movement and establishment of pestbromeliad-eating weevils on indigenous bromeliad populations or oncultivated pineapple plantations and ornamental bromeliads.
How can you help?Do not collect or move wild bromeliads. Monitor ornamentalbromeliads closely, especially after buying new plants or beforemoving plants. If you find weevils in bromeliads or weevil-likedamage on ornamental bromeliads or wild bromeliads, contact meat: [email protected].
More information.Bromeliad Biota:http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/frank/bromeliadbiota
Save the Bromeliads:http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/Frank/savebromeliads
