Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Samea multiplicalis [Lep.: Pyralidae], for biological control of two water weeds,Salvinia molesta andPistia stratiotes in Australia

  • Published:
Entomophaga Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The biology and host specificity ofSamea multiplicalis (Guenée) were studied in quarantine in Australia. Immature stages completed development onSalvinia molesta Mitchell,Pistia stratiotes L. andAzolla pinnata R.Br. In starvation tests, although larvae which had first fed onS. molesta produced minor leaf scarring on some other plants, they were unable to complete development.

Damage toS. molesta andP. stratiotes indicated thatS. multiplicalis may be a valuable biological control agent for these weeds in Australia.S. multiplicalis was first liberated in northern Queensland in 1981 where it has become established onS. molesta.

Résumé

La biologie deSamea multiplicalis Guenée et sa spécificité des hôtes ont été étudiées en quarantaine en Australie. Les stades larvaires se développent complètement surSalvinia molesta Mitchell,Pistia stratiotes L., etAzolla pinnata R. Br.. Dans des essais d'inanition, les larves qui s'étaient nourries d'abord deS. molesta ont causé des cicatrices mineures aux feuilles de quelques autres plantes, mais sans pouvoir s'y développer en adultes.

Samea multiplicalis, d'après ses dégâts àS. molesta et àP. stratiotes, pourrait servir comme agent utile dans la lutte biologique contre ces mauvaises herbes en Australie. On a libéréS. multiplicalis en 1981, au nord du Queensland, où elle s'est établie surS. molesta.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bennett, F.D. — 1966. Investigations on the insects attacking the aquatic fern,Salvinia spp. in Trinidad and northern South America. —Proc. South. Weed Conf., 19, 497–504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buckingham, K.W., Ela, S.W., Morris, J.G. &Goldman, C.R. — 1978. Nutritive value of the nitrogen-fixing aquatic fernAzolla filiculoides. —J. Agric. Food Chem., 26, 1230–1234.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Centre, T.D., Balciunas, J.K. &Habeck, D.H. — 1982. Descriptions ofSameodes albiguttalis [Lepidoptera: Pyralidae] life stages with key to Lepidoptera larvae on waterhyacinths. —Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am., 75, 471–479.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Loach, C.J., De Loach, D.J. &Cordo, H.A. — 1979. Observations on the biology of the moth,Samea multiplicalis on water lettuce in Argentina. —J. Aquat. Plant Manage., 17, 42–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forno, I.W. &Harley, K.L.S. — 1979. The occurrence ofSalvinia molesta in Brazil. —Aquat. Bot., 6, 185–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gangstad, E.D., Seaman, D.E. &Nelson, M.L. — 1972. Potential growth of aquatic plants on the lower Mekong River basin Laos-Thailand. —Hyacinth Control J., 10, 4–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guenée, A. — 1854. Histoire Naturelle des Insectes. Species Général des Lépidoptères. Vol. 8. —Roret, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimball, C.P. — 1965. Arthropods of Florida and neighbouring land area. Vol. 1. Lepidoptera of Florida. —U.S. Dep. Agric., Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knopf, K.W. &Habeck, D.H. — 1976. Life history and biology ofSamea multiplicalis. —Environ. Entomol., 5, 539–542.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, G. &Das, N. — 1969. Studies on the control of aquatic weeds of Orissa. —Hyacinth Control J., 8, 40–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, D.S. — 1978. The distribution and spread of Salvinia in Australia. —Proc. 1st Conf. Council Aust. Weed Sci. Soc., Melbourne 1978, 321–326.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, P.C. — 1971. Summary of aquatic weed survey and control data for Volta Lake during 1969. —Hyacinth Control J., 9, 49–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phillippy, C.L. — 1966. Recommended herbicides for the five regions of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. —Hyacinth Control J., 5, 32–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Room, P.M., Harley, K.L.S., Forno, I.W. &Sands, D.P.A. — 1981. Successful biological control of the floating weed Salvinia. —Nature (Lond.), 294, 78–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sainty, G.R. &Jacobs, S.W.L. — 1981. Waterplants of New South Wales. —Water Resources Commission New South Wales, Sydney, 550 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sands, D.P.A. — 1983. Identity ofCyrtobagous sp. [Coleoptera: Curculionidae] introduced into Australia for biological control of Salvinia. —J. Aust. Entomol. Soc., 22, 200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sankaran, T. & Ramaseshiah, G. — 1973. Investigations on three species of insects recommended for biological control of the aquatic weedSalvinia auriculata. — Commonw. Inst. of Biol. Control Report, Bangalore, India, 6 pp.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology, CSIRO, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Qld. Australia

    D. P. A. Sands & R. C. Kassulke

Authors
  1. D. P. A. Sands
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. C. Kassulke
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sands, D.P.A., Kassulke, R.C. Samea multiplicalis [Lep.: Pyralidae], for biological control of two water weeds,Salvinia molesta andPistia stratiotes in Australia. Entomophaga 29, 267–273 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372113

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02372113

Keywords

Search

Navigation