The Milfoil weevil is a small water bug that may 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 mankind.
There are two sorts of milfoil to be found in the Us. One is native and the other invasive (Eurasian Milfoil). The indigenous species is not a problem but the Eurasian one is a major environmental threat. 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 in all probability introduced to the United States 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 ship anchors, bottoms, and propellors it spread widely, bringing with it drastic ecological shifts and additional problems for people. Thankfully the milfoil weevil can be spread the same way.
It propagates quickly and destroys ecosystems by choking out the native plant life which reduces food for water fowl, reduces habitat for fry, and reducing fishing by beasts. The large mats it forms reduce the oxygenation of water by wind that leads to stressed fish and algae blooms.
For humans, milfoil growth means a loss of boating, bathing, fishing and waterskiing areas. In communities, the dense mats could cause floods and droughts because of closed intake or overflow pipes. The mats can be particularly detrimental to dams by breaking or clotting generators and reducing electricity production.
The tiny milfoil weevil seems to be the panacea to this plague. The fact that it is indigenous favors Eurasian milfoil over native milfoil, and kills the colonies step by step, giving native species time to recover, make this the ideal. Add to that the number of generations of milfoil weevils per year (at least 3) and you have a natural pestilence remover with none of the troubles related with other methods. When taking into consideration how fast the milfoil spreads, it is plain that weevils are the perfect solution to controlling the problem.
This water flora spread rapidly because broken bits can sink to the bottom and easily form new plants. Aquatic harvesting devices are not successful because they break the plant and pieces come off and replant themselves elsewhere. Vacuum dredging is only slightly more successful in that it catches small broken pieces, but it also causes a great disruption in the water and can strip the bottom of all floras.
With a taste for Eurasia milfoil rather than the indigenous milfoil, the weevil eats the flora from the inside out, ultimately destroying the whole plant. With a short life span (milfoil weevils live about thirty days) at least 3 generations will live and die till they head to the land to winter. The weevils do have wings, but have never been seen flying, so whether they swim or fly ashore will remain a mystery. The weevils are hearty little bugs and once they are inserted to an area, they can survive the harshest weather.
There are two sorts of milfoil to be found in the Us. One is native and the other invasive (Eurasian Milfoil). The indigenous species is not a problem but the Eurasian one is a major environmental threat. 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 in all probability introduced to the United States 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 ship anchors, bottoms, and propellors it spread widely, bringing with it drastic ecological shifts and additional problems for people. Thankfully the milfoil weevil can be spread the same way.
It propagates quickly and destroys ecosystems by choking out the native plant life which reduces food for water fowl, reduces habitat for fry, and reducing fishing by beasts. The large mats it forms reduce the oxygenation of water by wind that leads to stressed fish and algae blooms.
For humans, milfoil growth means a loss of boating, bathing, fishing and waterskiing areas. In communities, the dense mats could cause floods and droughts because of closed intake or overflow pipes. The mats can be particularly detrimental to dams by breaking or clotting generators and reducing electricity production.
The tiny milfoil weevil seems to be the panacea to this plague. The fact that it is indigenous favors Eurasian milfoil over native milfoil, and kills the colonies step by step, giving native species time to recover, make this the ideal. Add to that the number of generations of milfoil weevils per year (at least 3) and you have a natural pestilence remover with none of the troubles related with other methods. When taking into consideration how fast the milfoil spreads, it is plain that weevils are the perfect solution to controlling the problem.
This water flora spread rapidly because broken bits can sink to the bottom and easily form new plants. Aquatic harvesting devices are not successful because they break the plant and pieces come off and replant themselves elsewhere. Vacuum dredging is only slightly more successful in that it catches small broken pieces, but it also causes a great disruption in the water and can strip the bottom of all floras.
With a taste for Eurasia milfoil rather than the indigenous milfoil, the weevil eats the flora from the inside out, ultimately destroying the whole plant. With a short life span (milfoil weevils live about thirty days) at least 3 generations will live and die till they head to the land to winter. The weevils do have wings, but have never been seen flying, so whether they swim or fly ashore will remain a mystery. The weevils are hearty little bugs and once they are inserted to an area, they can survive the harshest weather.
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Before you aquire Milfoil Weevil, make sure you check Dave Duncan's excellent website on Milfoil Weevil, www.milfoilweevil.com
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