What is the Story of the Salvinia Weevils from Florida and the ARS Biological Control Effort?
The weevil in Florida is recognized as Cyrtobagous salviniae, the same South American species that was used to control giant salvinia in other parts of the world. This insect was first detected in Florida in 1960 where it is now widespread on common salvinia, Salvinia minima. The most conservative approach to the giant salvinia problem, therefore, was to simply transfer the insect from Florida to Texas and Louisiana. This approach reduced the risk of introducing parasites or diseases that might have come with the weevil from Australia, which was originally from Brazil. However, in May of 2000, after comparing gene sequences between Florida weevils and Australia weevils, we found slight differences. The biological significance of these differences is unknown but it was decided to discontinue releases of the Florida weevil because even the slightest uncertainty about their identity was not acceptable. Virtually all the published information on this insect is based on the Australia weevil
