• Corpus ID: 83185336

Australian Moths for Hydrilla Control.

@inproceedings{Habeck1996AustralianMF,
  title={Australian Moths for Hydrilla Control.},
  author={Dale H. Habeck},
  year={1996}
}

• D. Habeck
• Published 1 November 1996
• Environmental Science

Abstract : Biological studies and initial host-range tests of four species of aquatic caterpillars that feed on Hydrilla verticillata were conducted in Australia. One of these species, Parapoynx Diminutalis, has accidentally been introduced into the United States and occurs in lakes and ponds or in backwaters along rivers. The other three species, Aulacodes Siennata Nymphula Eromenalis and Strepsinoma Repititalis, apparently are restricted to permanent streams and have never been found in the United States. Studies documented a fairly wide host range for A. Siennata, which ordinarily would preclude this species from consideration as a biocontrol agent; however, in many ways, it is similar to the biocontrol agent Bagous Hydrillae, which is currently being used as a biocontrol agent of Hydrilla Nymphula Eromenalis also has a fairly wide host range, but it is the more restrictive of the two species. If additional exploration does not provide more specific agents, these two moths should be considered for further testing as potential biocontrol agents of Hydrilla.