The Efficacy of the Weevil Cyrtobagous salvinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) as a Biological Control on Giant Salvinia (Salvinia molesta) in the Lower Colorado River

Abstract

The Lower Colorado River Giant Salvinia Task Force has tried a series of physical and chemical activities in an effort to control and eradicate giant salvinia (Salvinia molesta) since 1999. Because these efforts have not produced satisfactory results, biological control using the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was applied on the Lower Colorado River by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture offices in California and Arizona. They released the weevil at four sites in the summer of 2003, four sites in 2004, and eight sites in 2005.We monitored physico-chemical and biological parameters at release and 10 m and 1 km down stream from release sites. Weevils established their colony in the field, but control has not been determined. Integrated pest management (physical, chemical, and biological methods) will be essential for successful management of salvinia in the Lower Colorado River.The low temperature resistance and survival rates of the weevils were tested under three different diurnal temperature regimes (5 to 15 oC , 10 to 20 oC , and 15 to 25 oC ) and two different salvinia densities. At the low temperature range, the survival rate of the weevil was sharply decreased. The relationship between low temperature resistance of weevils and giant salvinia population was tested at the 5 to 15 oC range. The experiment was conducted at three different giant salvinia populations (0, 1, and 3 salvinia per container). The salvinia density had no significant effect on the survival of the weevil.To examine a more efficient method of biological control, we conducted a nitrogen fertilizer experiment on the river. Our goal was to demonstrate that plants fertilized with nitrogen would support a faster growing population of C. salviniae. In the Lower Colorado River, the weevil successfully survived winter and dispersed down the river.