Information

Agent

Cricotopus lebetis Sublette

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Chironomidae

Agent Name References:
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2011. Effect of an herbivorous stem mining midge on the growth of hydrilla. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 49 83-89.
- Epler, J.H., J.P. Cuda, and T.D. Center. 2000. Redescription of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a potential biocontrol agent of the aquatic weed hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Florida Entomologist 83(2): 171-180.

Weed

Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle

Family: Hydrocharitaceae
Common Name: hydrilla, Florida elodea

Notes: Two biotypes (dioecious and monoecious) are present in the continental USA

Origin: Africa, Asia, Australia, portions of Europe

Weed Name References:
- Balciunas, J.K., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., and J.F. Shearer. 2002. Hydrilla. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 91-114.
- Bennett, C.A. and G.R. Buckingham. 2000. The herbivorous insect fauna of a submersed weed, Hydrilla verticillata (Alisatales: Hydrocharitaceae). In N.R. Spencer, Ed. Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 4-14 July 1999, Bozeman, Montana, USA; Montana State University. pp. 307-313.

Weed Common Name References:
- Balciunas, J.K., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., and J.F. Shearer. 2002. Hydrilla. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 91-114.
- Buckingham, G.R. and M.J. Grodowitz. 2004. Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 184-195.

Weed Notes References:
- Balciunas, J.K., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., and J.F. Shearer. 2002. Hydrilla. In R. Van Driesche, S. Lyon, B. Blossey, M. Hoddle, and R. Reardon, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. FHTET-2002-04. USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, West Virginia. pp. 91-114.

Weed Origin References:
- Bennett, C.A. and G.R. Buckingham. 2000. The herbivorous insect fauna of a submersed weed, Hydrilla verticillata (Alisatales: Hydrocharitaceae). In N.R. Spencer, Ed. Proceedings of the X International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 4-14 July 1999, Bozeman, Montana, USA; Montana State University. pp. 307-313.
- Buckingham, G.R. and M.J. Grodowitz. 2004. Hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco Jr., Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 184-195.

Release and Source Information

List: 3 - Previously Used or Potential Agents Found in Exotic Ranges where their Deliberate Release is not Recorded

Year First Recorded: 1957
Region: North America
Country Found: United States of America
Subregion of Country: LA
Subregion specific:

Source: Ex. Unknown
Deliberate Redistribution?: No
Year Redistributed:
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country:
Subregion specific:

Release History: First recorded in LA 1957

Release Notes: First observations on hydrilla were in FL in 1992.

Source Information References:
- Cuda, J.P. 2009. Insects for biocontrol of aquatic weeds. In L.A. Gettys, W.T. Haller, and M. Bellaud, Eds. Biology and Control of Aquatic Plants: A Best Management Practices Handbook. Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation, Marietta, Georgia, USA. pp. 55-60.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2002. Biology and laboratory rearing of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a natural enemy of the aquatic weed Hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95(5): 587-596.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2011. Effect of an herbivorous stem mining midge on the growth of hydrilla. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 49 83-89.
- Epler, J.H., J.P. Cuda, and T.D. Center. 2000. Redescription of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a potential biocontrol agent of the aquatic weed hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Florida Entomologist 83(2): 171-180.
- Stratman, K.N., W.A. Overholt, J.P. Cuda, M.D. Netherland, and P.C. Wilson. 2013. The diversity of Chironomidae associated with hydrilla in Florida with special reference to Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Florida Entomologist 96: 654-657.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: FL, LA
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- Cuda, J.P. 2009. Insects for biocontrol of aquatic weeds. In L.A. Gettys, W.T. Haller, and M. Bellaud, Eds. Biology and Control of Aquatic Plants: A Best Management Practices Handbook. Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation, Marietta, Georgia, USA. pp. 55-60.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2002. Biology and laboratory rearing of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a natural enemy of the aquatic weed Hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95(5): 587-596.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2011. Effect of an herbivorous stem mining midge on the growth of hydrilla. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 49 83-89.
- Epler, J.H., J.P. Cuda, and T.D. Center. 2000. Redescription of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a potential biocontrol agent of the aquatic weed hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Florida Entomologist 83(2): 171-180.
- Stratman, K.N., W.A. Overholt, J.P. Cuda, A. Mukherjee, R. Diaz, M.D. Netherland, and P.C. Wilson. 2014. Temperature-dependent development, cold tolerance, and potential distribution of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a tip miner of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Journal of Insect Science 14(153): 1-8.

Abundance

Limited

Abundance References:
- Cuda, J.P. 2012. (personal communication) University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.
- Cuda, J.P., J.F. Shearer, E.NI. Weeks, E. Kariuki, J. Baniszewski, and M. Giurcanu. 2016. Compatibility of an insect, a fungus, and a herbicide for integrated pest management of dioecious hydrilla. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 54: 20–25.

Agent Impact

Impact: Slight
Geographic Scale of impact: Widespread throughout range
Impact Notes: Damages the plant's apical meristems, which causes stunting and prevents hydrilla from growing to the surface.

Impact References:
- Cuda, J.P. 2009. Insects for biocontrol of aquatic weeds. In L.A. Gettys, W.T. Haller, and M. Bellaud, Eds. Biology and Control of Aquatic Plants: A Best Management Practices Handbook. Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Foundation, Marietta, Georgia, USA. pp. 55-60.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2002. Biology and laboratory rearing of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a natural enemy of the aquatic weed Hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95(5): 587-596.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2011. Effect of an herbivorous stem mining midge on the growth of hydrilla. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 49 83-89.
- Purcell, M., N. Harms, M. Grodowitz, J. Zhang, J. Ding, G. Wheeler, R. Zonneveld, and R. Desmier de Chenon. 2019. Exploration for candidate biological control agents of the submerged aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata, in Asia and Australia 1996–2013. BioControl 64: 233–247.
- Cuda, J.P., J.F. Shearer, E.NI. Weeks, E. Kariuki, J. Baniszewski, and M. Giurcanu. 2016. Compatibility of an insect, a fungus, and a herbicide for integrated pest management of dioecious hydrilla. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management 54: 20–25.

Limiting Factors

Climate

Limiting Factors References:
- Cuda, J.P. 2012. (personal communication) University of Florida, Entomology and Nematology Department, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Gainesville, FL 32611 USA.
- Cuda, J.P., B.R. Coon, Y.M. Dao, and T.D. Center. 2002. Biology and laboratory rearing of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a natural enemy of the aquatic weed Hydrilla (Hydrocharitaceae). Annals of the Entomological Society of America 95(5): 587-596.
- Stratman, K.N., W.A. Overholt, J.P. Cuda, A. Mukherjee, R. Diaz, M.D. Netherland, and P.C. Wilson. 2014. Temperature-dependent development, cold tolerance, and potential distribution of Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae), a tip miner of Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Journal of Insect Science 14(153): 1-8.

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: Yes
Other Species Attacked Notes: Though field records are mostly associated with hydrilla, laboratory tests have shown Cricotopus lebetis to be a generalist that attacks several nontarget species, including several native to North America.

Non-Target References:
- Stratman, K.N., W.A. Overholt, J.P. Cuda, M.D. Netherland, and P.C. Wilson. 2013. The diversity of Chironomidae associated with hydrilla in Florida with special reference to Cricotopus lebetis (Diptera: Chironomidae). Florida Entomologist 96: 654-657.

Research Organizations

University of Florida, Gainesville (State (3))
University of Florida (State (35))

Notes