Information

Agent

Parapoynx diminutalis Snellen

Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Crambidae

Agent 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.
- Freedman, J.E., M.J. Grodowitz, R. Swindle, and J.G. Nachtrieb. 2007. Potential use of native and naturalized insect herbivores and fungal pathogens of aquatic and wetland plants. Final Report. ERDC/EL TR-07-11. Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, Washington D.C. 68 pp.
- Heppner, J.B., Ed. 1995. Atlas of Neotropical Lepidoptera. Vol. 3. Association for Tropical Lepidoptera, Inc., Gainesville, Florida. liv + 243 pp.

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: 1975
Region: North America
Country Found: United States of America
Subregion of Country: FL
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 FL 1975

Release Notes: Native to Asia, likely introduced in a shipment of aquarium plants.

Source Information 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. 1994. Biological control of aquatic weeds. In D. Rosen, F.D. Bennett, and J.L. Capinera, Eds. Pest Management in the Subtropics: Biological Control - the Florida Experience. Intercept Ltd, Andover, U.K. pp. 413-480.
- Delfosse, E.S., B.D. Perkins, and K.K. Steward. 1976. A new U.S. record for Parapoynx diminutalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a possible biological control agent for Hydrilla verticillata. Florida Entomologist 59: 19-20.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: AL, FL, GA, SC, TX
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment 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.
- Delfosse, E.S., B.D. Perkins, and K.K. Steward. 1976. A new U.S. record for Parapoynx diminutalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a possible biological control agent for Hydrilla verticillata. Florida Entomologist 59: 19-20.
- Moth Photographers Group. 2005. Digital Guide to Moth Identification. Moth Photographers Group at the Mississippi Entomological Museum, Mississippi State University, http://mothphotographersgroup.msstate.edu/AboutMPG.shtml. 30 August 2012.

Abundance

Limited

Abundance References:
- Freedman, J.E., M.J. Grodowitz, R. Swindle, and J.G. Nachtrieb. 2007. Potential use of native and naturalized insect herbivores and fungal pathogens of aquatic and wetland plants. Final Report. ERDC/EL TR-07-11. Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, Washington D.C. 68 pp.

Agent Impact

Impact: Slight
Geographic Scale of impact: Widespread throughout range
Impact Notes: Studied as potential biocontrol agent before its broad host range precluded its release. Subsequently arrived in USA accidentally. Larval feeding on leaves and stems can heavily damage hydrilla populations locally. However, this agent only occurs sporadically so overall impact typically low. Populations limited by cold weather.

Impact 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.
- Freedman, J.E., M.J. Grodowitz, R. Swindle, and J.G. Nachtrieb. 2007. Potential use of native and naturalized insect herbivores and fungal pathogens of aquatic and wetland plants. Final Report. ERDC/EL TR-07-11. Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, Washington D.C. 68 pp.
- 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.

Limiting Factors

Climate

Limiting Factors References:
- Freedman, J.E., M.J. Grodowitz, R. Swindle, and J.G. Nachtrieb. 2007. Potential use of native and naturalized insect herbivores and fungal pathogens of aquatic and wetland plants. Final Report. ERDC/EL TR-07-11. Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, Washington D.C. 68 pp.

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: Yes
Other Species Attacked Notes: Feeds on numerous nontarget species.

Non-Target 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.
- Freedman, J.E., M.J. Grodowitz, R. Swindle, and J.G. Nachtrieb. 2007. Potential use of native and naturalized insect herbivores and fungal pathogens of aquatic and wetland plants. Final Report. ERDC/EL TR-07-11. Aquatic Plant Control Research Program, Washington D.C. 68 pp.

Research Organizations

Gainesville, Florida (USDA (3))
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USDA (4))

Notes