Biological Plant Pest Control
Neochetina eichhorniae was first introduced, as an herbivore agent for the biological control of water hyacinths, to Florida in the United States in 1972. Due to its successful reduction and control of the plant in the Everglades and other natural water systems there, it has subsequently been introduced in more U.S. states and other countries, such as in east African Lake Victoria as a powerful biological control agent.
Water hyacinth is a highly invasive species and has a tendency to cover and choke major waterways and lake surfaces, which can have numerous detrimental ecological, biological diversity, fisheries, hydroelectric, transportation, and economic results.
The adults produce characteristic feeding scars on the leaves and petioles. In the larval stage, the insect tunnels into the petioles and the crown of the plant. This feeding results in biotic stress, reduced flowers and seeds, and less vigorous growth.
Read more about this topic: Neochetina Eichhorniae
Famous quotes containing the words biological, plant, pest and/or control:
“Biological possibility and desire are not the same as biological need. Women have childbearing equipment. For them to choose not to use the equipment is no more blocking what is instinctive than it is for a man who, muscles or no, chooses not to be a weightlifter.”
—Betty Rollin (b. 1936)
“If church prelates, past or present, had even an inkling of physiology they’d realise that what they term this inner ugliness creates and nourishes the hearing ear, the seeing eye, the active mind, and energetic body of man and woman, in the same way that dirt and dung at the roots give the plant its delicate leaves and the full-blown rose.”
—Sean O’Casey (1884–1964)
“The pest of society is egotists. There are dull and bright, sacred and profane, coarse and fine egotists. ‘Tis a disease that, like influenza, falls on all constitutions.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Our culture still holds mothers almost exclusively responsible when things go wrong with the kids. Sensing this ultimate accountability, women are understandably reluctant to give up control or veto power. If the finger of blame was eventually going to point in your direction, wouldn’t you be?”
—Ron Taffel (20th century)