Information

Agent

Hydrellia pakistanae Deonier

Class: Insecta
Order: Diptera
Family: Ephydridae

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.
- 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

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. India
Year: 1987
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: AL, CA, FL, GA, LA, TX
Subregion specific:

Release History: FL 1987-1992, AL 1990-1991, GA 1990-1992; Redistributed to/within FL 1992 1994-1995, AL 1991-1995, LA 1991-1993, TX 1993-1994; Redistributed FL to CA 1994

Release Notes: A population from India was released from 1989-1992. A second population imported from Pakistan was released in FL in 1990 and subsequently not differentiated from the established Indian population. A third introduction from China was released in 1992 in AL FL LA and TX to increase survival in more temperate regions; the fate of this population was subsequently not differentiated in the literature. Various redistributions from FL material could have contained individuals of the Pakistan or China population.

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. 1988. Reunion in Florida - Hydrilla, a weevil, and a fly. Aquatics 10: 19-25.
- 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.
- Center, T.D. 1992. Release and field colonization of new biological control agents of Hydrilla verticillata. In Proceedings of the 26th Annual Meeting, Aquatic Plant Control Research Program. 18-22 November 1991, Dallas, Texas, USA; U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. pp. 205-221.
- Center, T.D., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco, G. Jubinsky, E. Snoddy, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Establishment of Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the southeastern United States. Biological Control 8: 65-73.
- Godfrey, K.E., L.W.J. Anderson, C.E. Turner, K. Chan, D. Quimayousie, and J. Barajas. 1996. Hydrellia pakistanae as a biological control agent of Hydrilla verticillata. In L.G. Bezark, Ed. Biological Control Program 1995 Annual Summary. California Department of Food and Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry., Sacramento, California. pp. 29.
- 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.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, 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.
- Center, T.D. 1992. Release and field colonization of new biological control agents of Hydrilla verticillata. In Proceedings of the 26th Annual Meeting, Aquatic Plant Control Research Program. 18-22 November 1991, Dallas, Texas, USA; U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. pp. 205-221.
- Center, T.D., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco, G. Jubinsky, E. Snoddy, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Establishment of Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the southeastern United States. Biological Control 8: 65-73.

Abundance

Variable

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.
- Center, T.D., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco, G. Jubinsky, E. Snoddy, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Establishment of Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the southeastern United States. Biological Control 8: 65-73.
- Wheeler, G.S. and T.D. Center. 2001. Impact of the biological control agent Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) on the submersed aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Biological Control 21: 168-181.
- 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: Variable
Geographic Scale of impact: Variable
Impact Notes: Larval feeding on leaves decreases photosynthesis and reduces tuber numbers. High fly densities locally correlated with decreases in weed populations. However, fly populations often limited by parasitism and cold weather. 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.
- Center, T.D., M.J. Grodowitz, A.F. Cofrancesco, G. Jubinsky, E. Snoddy, and J.E. Freedman. 1997. Establishment of Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) for the biological control of the submersed aquatic plant Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae) in the southeastern United States. Biological Control 8: 65-73.
- 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.
- Wheeler, G.S. and T.D. Center. 2001. Impact of the biological control agent Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) on the submersed aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Biological Control 21: 168-181.
- 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; Climate

Limiting Factors References:
- 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.
- Wheeler, G.S. and T.D. Center. 2001. Impact of the biological control agent Hydrellia pakistanae (Diptera: Ephydridae) on the submersed aquatic weed Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae). Biological Control 21: 168-181.

Other Attack

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

Research Organizations

International Institute of Biological Control, United Kingdom (IIBC)
California Department of Food and Agriculture, Sacramento (State (14))
Florida Department of Natural Resources, Tallahassee (State (18))
University of Florida, Gainesville (State (3))
Tennessee Valley Authority, United States of America (TVA)
United State Army Corps of Engineers (USAE)
Davis, California (USDA (14))
Gainesville, Florida (USDA (3))
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USDA (4))
Albany, California (USDA (7))

Notes