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1 June 2013 Damage by Neochetina Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)Induces Resistance in Eichhornia crassipes (Commelinales: Pontederiaceae)
Amanda L. Buchanan
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Induced resistance in invasive plants might influence herbivore performance or preference, and hamper herbivore-based biological control management. Specialist weevils Neochetina eichhorniae Hustache (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and N. bruchi Warner (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are two herbivores commonly used to control Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms (Commelinales: Pontederiaceae), a destructive and widespread invasive plant. However, we do not know whether Neochetina weevils induce resistance in E. crassipes. I report results from excised-leaf bioassay and whole-plant choice experiments testing adult weevil preference and performance in response to previous damage. I found that adult weevil damage induced resistance in E. crassipes, decreasing weevil performance, but simulated damage did not influence weevil performance in a comparable way. Simulated damage did, however, influence weevil preference. This study is the first test for induced resistance to Neochetina weevil herbivory in Eichhornia crassipes.

Amanda L. Buchanan "Damage by Neochetina Weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)Induces Resistance in Eichhornia crassipes (Commelinales: Pontederiaceae)," Florida Entomologist 96(2), 458-462, (1 June 2013). https://doi.org/10.1653/024.096.0210
Published: 1 June 2013
KEYWORDS
biocontrol biológico
biological control
el jacinto de agua
Herbivoría
herbivory
Neochetina bruchi
Neochetina eichhorniae
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