Arcola malloi
Encyclopedia
Arcola malloi is a species of snout moth
known as the alligator weed stem borer. It is used as an agent of biological pest control
against the noxious aquatic plant
known as alligator weed
(Alternanthera philoxeroides).
This moth is native to South America. It was introduced to the United States in the 1970s to attack the alligator weed. It is now established in populations of the weed in the southeastern United States. The adult moth is brown and an elongated arrowhead shape about 13 millimeters long. The female lays between 200 and 300 white eggs during her week-long adult life. The larva
is white when first emerged from its egg and quickly turns brown and striped. The larva bores into the stem of the alligator weed and consumes it from the inside out, generally destroying between four and eight stems before pupa
ting. It pupates in a cocoon inside the hollowed-out stem for ten days.
Alligator weed which has been attacked by the larva has areas of dead leaves distal to the point at which the larva has destroyed the stem, blocking nutrient flow. A mat of the weed can be quickly eliminated in heavy infestation. This moth and the alligator weed flea beetle
may be found in a single mat of alligator weed; in this case, the two insects work in synergy
and the weed rarely recovers.
Pyralidae
The Pyralidae or snout moths are a family of Lepidoptera in the ditrysian superfamily Pyraloidea. In many classifications, the grass moths are included in the Pyralidae as a subfamily, making the combined group one of the largest families in the Lepidoptera...
known as the alligator weed stem borer. It is used as an agent of biological pest control
Biological pest control
Biological control of pests in agriculture is a method of controlling pests that relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms...
against the noxious aquatic plant
Aquatic plant
Aquatic plants are plants that have adapted to living in aquatic environments. They are also referred to as hydrophytes or aquatic macrophytes. These plants require special adaptations for living submerged in water, or at the water's surface. Aquatic plants can only grow in water or in soil that is...
known as alligator weed
Alligator weed
Alternanthera philoxeroides, commonly known as Alligator weed, is an immersed aquatic plant. It originated in South America, but has spread to many parts of the world and is considered an invasive species in Australia, China, New Zealand, Thailand and the United States.Alligator weed can grow in a...
(Alternanthera philoxeroides).
This moth is native to South America. It was introduced to the United States in the 1970s to attack the alligator weed. It is now established in populations of the weed in the southeastern United States. The adult moth is brown and an elongated arrowhead shape about 13 millimeters long. The female lays between 200 and 300 white eggs during her week-long adult life. The larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
is white when first emerged from its egg and quickly turns brown and striped. The larva bores into the stem of the alligator weed and consumes it from the inside out, generally destroying between four and eight stems before pupa
Pupa
A pupa is the life stage of some insects undergoing transformation. The pupal stage is found only in holometabolous insects, those that undergo a complete metamorphosis, going through four life stages; embryo, larva, pupa and imago...
ting. It pupates in a cocoon inside the hollowed-out stem for ten days.
Alligator weed which has been attacked by the larva has areas of dead leaves distal to the point at which the larva has destroyed the stem, blocking nutrient flow. A mat of the weed can be quickly eliminated in heavy infestation. This moth and the alligator weed flea beetle
Agasicles hygrophila
Agasicles hygrophila is a species of leaf beetle known by the common name alligator weed flea beetle. It has been used successfully as an agent of biological pest control against the noxious aquatic plant known as alligator weed .This beetle is native to South America but has been imported to areas...
may be found in a single mat of alligator weed; in this case, the two insects work in synergy
Synergy
Synergy may be defined as two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable.The term synergy comes from the Greek word from , , meaning "working together".-Definitions and usages:...
and the weed rarely recovers.