« Milfoil Weevil as a Barrier to Invasive Milfoil

September 3, 2009

0 - add yours »

The Milfoil weevil is a small water bug that could be able to rescue troubled ecosystems. This weevil may prove it usefulness in eating milfoil and reestablishing the health of an ecosystem while causing no harm to people.

There are two types of milfoil to be found in the United States. Eurasian Milfoil is invasive and non-indigenous and the other is simple indigenous. indigenous milfoil is simply annoying, but the invasive species is a threat to all bodies of water in the northern US states. The milfoil weevil now enjoys great popularity thanks to its love for the Eurasian Milfoil.

Eurasian milfoil (from this point forward all milfoil will be considered Eurasian milfoil unless otherwise noted) was most probably introduced to the Us sometime between the late 1800’s to 1940’s as either a stowaway on a Boats ballast or tossed shipping material. Because of its ability to travel on boat anchors, bottoms, and propellors it spread widely, bringing with it drastic ecological shifts and additional problems for humans. Luckily this can spread the milfoil weevil as well.

Milfoil spreads quickly, which results in less growth for native floras, less food for some beasts and less living habitat for small aquatic creatures. The mats formed by the milfoil do not allow the wind to bring refreshing oxygen to the water and this will result in the ultimate death of fish and a surge in algae growth.

For mankind, milfoil growth means a loss of boating, bathing, fishing and waterskiing areas. Residential Areas are more adversely affected as the mats can choke intake and overflow pipes resulting in flooding or droughts. In dykes, they choke and break generators and reduce power output.

The milfoil weevil may well be the solution to this flora epidemic. The milfoil weevil favors Eurasian milfoil to the indigenous variety, which means that the invasive species are killed over time and indigenous plants are allowed to bit by bit recover. Coupled with a high breeding rate, the weevil is the safe and ideal solution to the milfoil problem. The weevils are a clear solution to the milfoil problem, peculiarly considering the rate at which the plant spreads.

It spreads when small pieces break off and sink to the bottom, there they take root. Using large aquatic harvesters are not the answer as the break up the milfoil too much and it grows right back. Vacuum dredging is only slightly more productive in that it catches little broken pieces, but it also causes a great disruption in the water and can strip the bottom of all floras.

The milfoil weevil though favors Eurasian to indigenous milfoil so it eats that first, slowly weeding it out by tunneling into the stems and eating it from the inside out. Weevils have a short life, living no more than thirty days, so before the winter comes, three generations will live and die before they come ashore for the winter. Although they have wings they have rarely been know to fly so no one know if milfoil weevils fly to land or swim. Once based in a habitat, the milfoil weevil will live even through the coldest Minnesota winters.

Water Plant Control Methods If you own a pond then odds are you currently...
Hydrilla Hydrilla is a flora found in freshwater. The Hydrilla will...
Learn About Bridal Shower Favors and How to Use Them All kinds of showers, including bridal showers, are famous for...
Should You Use Grass Carp For Aquatic Plant Control? Containing the aquatic plants within a pond, or in any...
What Are Your Aquatic Weed Control Options? There is nothing individuals enjoy more than a bit of...