Information

Agent

Hydrellia balciunasi Bock

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Ephydridae

Agent Name 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.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, A.F. Cofrancesco, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Release and establishment of Hydrellia balciunasi (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the United States. Biological Control 9: 15-23.

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: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Australia
Year: 1989
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: FL, TX
Subregion specific:

Release History: FL 1989-1992, TX 1991-1994

Release Notes:

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. 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.
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, E. Snoddy, and D.F.A. Jr. 1994. Release and establishment of insect biocontrol agents for the management of hydrilla. In Proceedings of the 28th Annual Meeting, Aquatic Plant Control Research Program. 15-18 November 1993, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. pp. 181-201.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, A.F. Cofrancesco, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Release and establishment of Hydrellia balciunasi (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the United States. Biological Control 9: 15-23.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: 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.
- 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.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, E. Snoddy, and D.F.A. Jr. 1994. Release and establishment of insect biocontrol agents for the management of hydrilla. In Proceedings of the 28th Annual Meeting, Aquatic Plant Control Research Program. 15-18 November 1993, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. pp. 181-201.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, A.F. Cofrancesco, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Release and establishment of Hydrellia balciunasi (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the United States. Biological Control 9: 15-23.

Abundance

Limited

Abundance 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.
- 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.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, A.F. Cofrancesco, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Release and establishment of Hydrellia balciunasi (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the United States. Biological Control 9: 15-23.
- 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.
- Harms, N.E., M. Purcell, and G.S. Wheeler. 2022. Hydrilla Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2022-32-HYDRILLA-A.

Agent Impact

Impact: None
Geographic Scale of impact:
Impact Notes: Larval mining causes decay of leaves. Replaced by Hydrellia pakistanae at most release sites. No major impact has been observed in the field since populations have remained low and range expansion has been limited. Parasitism likely limits populations. Studies since 2004 indicate the monoecious biotype is not as suitable a host for introduced Hydrellia spp. as is dioecious hydrilla.

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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Grodowitz, M.J., T.D. Center, A.F. Cofrancesco, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Release and establishment of Hydrellia balciunasi (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the United States. Biological Control 9: 15-23.
- Grodowitz, M.J., J.G. Nachtrieb, N.E. Harms, and J.E. Freedman. 2013. Suitability of using introduced Hydrellia spp. for management of monoecious Hydrilla verticillata. In Y. Wu, T. Johnson, S. Sing, S. Raghu, G. Wheeler, P. Pratt, K. Warner, T. Center, J. Goolsby, and R. Reardon, Eds. Proceedings of the XIII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds. 11-16 September 2011, Kohala Coast, Hawaii, USA; Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team, Morgantown, WV, USA. pp. 189.
- 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.
- Harms, N.E., M. Purcell, and G.S. Wheeler. 2022. Hydrilla Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2022-32-HYDRILLA-A.

Limiting Factors

Parasitism

Limiting Factors References:
- Coon, B.R., N.E. Harms, J.P. Cuda, and M.J. Grodowitz. 2014. Laboratory biology and field population dynamics of Trichopria columbiana (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), an acquired parasitoid of two hydrilla biological control agents. Biocontrol Science and Technology 24(11): 1243–1264.

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: No
Other Species Attacked Notes:

Research Organizations

University of Florida, Gainesville (State (3))
United State Army Corps of Engineers (USAE)
Townsville, Australia (USDA (15))
Gainesville, Florida (USDA (3))
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USDA (4))

Notes