Megamelus scutellaris, the water hyacinth planthopper, is a true bug native to South America. It is used as a biological control agent to manage and reduce the spread of the water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes, formerly Eichhornia crassipes), an invasive aquatic plant native to South America that has invaded many freshwater systems globally.
Megamelus scutellaris has a widespread distribution in South America. Populations have been recorded in Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay, and it is likely that the insect mirrors much of the distribution of its host plant, water hyacinth.[1] It is primarily pale yellow to light brown in color with darker markings on the head and thorax. It measures approximately 3-4 mm in length, with a distinct, helmet-like scutellum covering most of its abdomen.[2]
Wingless Megamelus scutellaris adults and nymphs on a water hyacinth leaf, Hartbeespoort Dam, South Africa.
The insect's life cycle consists of egg, nymph, and adult stages. They are wing dimorphic, whereby the adults can be either wingless (brachypterous) or winged (macropterous).
Biological control of water hyacinthedit
Megamelus scutellaris is host-specific to water hyacinth, and has been introduced as a herbivore agent for the biological control of the noxious weed, causing damage to the plants and inhibiting their growth and reproduction. It was first introduced to Florida in 2010, where it subsequently established.[3] It has been observed to thrive in cooler regions of the native water hyacinth range, which led to its introduction in 2013 to more temperate regions in South Africa as an effective biological control agent.[4]
Both adult and nymph M. scutellaris feed on the water hyacinth plants.[3] Adult females lay their eggs on the leaves and petioles of water hyacinth plants, and upon hatching, the nymphs feed on the plant tissues, progressing through five instar stages before reaching adulthood. This feeding results in biotic stress and increases the plant's susceptibility to disease.[5] Under extensive feeding pressure, the plants may eventually succumb, causing them to sink and consequently leading to a decline in the water hyacinth population.
Referencesedit
^Sosa, A. J.; Cordo, H. A.; Sacco, J. (2007-08-01). "Preliminary evaluation of Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), a candidate for biological control of waterhyacinth". Biological Control. 42 (2): 129–138. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2007.04.012. ISSN 1049-9644.
^Sosa, A. J.; Marino De Remes Lenicov, A. M.; Mariani, R.; Cordo, H. A. (2004-03-01). "Redescription of Megamelus scutellaris Berg (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), a Candidate for Biological Control of Water Hyacinth". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 97 (2): 271–275. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2004)097[0271:ROMSBH]2.0.CO;2. S2CID 6527766.
^ abTipping, Philip W.; Sosa, Alejandro; Pokorny, Eileen N.; Foley, Jeremiah; Schmitz, Don C.; Lane, Jon S.; Rodgers, Leroy; Mccloud, Lori; Livingston-Way, Pam; Cole, Matthew S.; Nichols, Gary (June 2014). "Release and Establishment of Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) on Waterhyacinth in Florida". Florida Entomologist. 97 (2): 804–806. doi:10.1653/024.097.0264. ISSN 0015-4040.
^Coetzee, Julie A.; Miller, Benjamin E.; Kinsler, David; Sebola, Keneilwe; Hill, Martin P. (2022-11-02). "It's a numbers game: inundative biological control of water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes), using Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae) yields success at a high elevation, hypertrophic reservoir in South Africa". Biocontrol Science and Technology. 32 (11): 1302–1311. doi:10.1080/09583157.2022.2109594. ISSN 0958-3157. S2CID 251485734.
^Sutton, G. F.; Compton, S. G.; Coetzee, J. A. (2016-12-01). "Naturally occurring phytopathogens enhance biological control of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) by Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), even in eutrophic water". Biological Control. 103: 261–268. doi:10.1016/j.biocontrol.2016.10.003. ISSN 1049-9644.
May 03, 2024
megamelus, scutellaris, water, hyacinth, planthopper, true, native, south, america, used, biological, control, agent, manage, reduce, spread, water, hyacinth, pontederia, crassipes, formerly, eichhornia, crassipes, invasive, aquatic, plant, native, south, amer. Megamelus scutellaris the water hyacinth planthopper is a true bug native to South America It is used as a biological control agent to manage and reduce the spread of the water hyacinth Pontederia crassipes formerly Eichhornia crassipes an invasive aquatic plant native to South America that has invaded many freshwater systems globally Megamelus scutellaris Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Hemiptera Suborder Auchenorrhyncha Infraorder Fulgoromorpha Family Delphacidae Genus Megamelus Species M scutellaris Binomial name Megamelus scutellarisBerg 1883Description editMegamelus scutellaris has a widespread distribution in South America Populations have been recorded in Argentina Brazil Peru and Uruguay and it is likely that the insect mirrors much of the distribution of its host plant water hyacinth 1 It is primarily pale yellow to light brown in color with darker markings on the head and thorax It measures approximately 3 4 mm in length with a distinct helmet like scutellum covering most of its abdomen 2 nbsp Wingless Megamelus scutellaris adults and nymphs on a water hyacinth leaf Hartbeespoort Dam South Africa The insect s life cycle consists of egg nymph and adult stages They are wing dimorphic whereby the adults can be either wingless brachypterous or winged macropterous Biological control of water hyacinth editMegamelus scutellaris is host specific to water hyacinth and has been introduced as a herbivore agent for the biological control of the noxious weed causing damage to the plants and inhibiting their growth and reproduction It was first introduced to Florida in 2010 where it subsequently established 3 It has been observed to thrive in cooler regions of the native water hyacinth range which led to its introduction in 2013 to more temperate regions in South Africa as an effective biological control agent 4 Both adult and nymph M scutellaris feed on the water hyacinth plants 3 Adult females lay their eggs on the leaves and petioles of water hyacinth plants and upon hatching the nymphs feed on the plant tissues progressing through five instar stages before reaching adulthood This feeding results in biotic stress and increases the plant s susceptibility to disease 5 Under extensive feeding pressure the plants may eventually succumb causing them to sink and consequently leading to a decline in the water hyacinth population References edit Sosa A J Cordo H A Sacco J 2007 08 01 Preliminary evaluation of Megamelus scutellaris Berg Hemiptera Delphacidae a candidate for biological control of waterhyacinth Biological Control 42 2 129 138 doi 10 1016 j biocontrol 2007 04 012 ISSN 1049 9644 Sosa A J Marino De Remes Lenicov A M Mariani R Cordo H A 2004 03 01 Redescription of Megamelus scutellaris Berg Hemiptera Delphacidae a Candidate for Biological Control of Water Hyacinth Annals of the Entomological Society of America 97 2 271 275 doi 10 1603 0013 8746 2004 097 0271 ROMSBH 2 0 CO 2 S2CID 6527766 a b Tipping Philip W Sosa Alejandro Pokorny Eileen N Foley Jeremiah Schmitz Don C Lane Jon S Rodgers Leroy Mccloud Lori Livingston Way Pam Cole Matthew S Nichols Gary June 2014 Release and Establishment of Megamelus scutellaris Hemiptera Delphacidae on Waterhyacinth in Florida Florida Entomologist 97 2 804 806 doi 10 1653 024 097 0264 ISSN 0015 4040 Coetzee Julie A Miller Benjamin E Kinsler David Sebola Keneilwe Hill Martin P 2022 11 02 It s a numbers game inundative biological control of water hyacinth Pontederia crassipes using Megamelus scutellaris Hemiptera Delphacidae yields success at a high elevation hypertrophic reservoir in South Africa Biocontrol Science and Technology 32 11 1302 1311 doi 10 1080 09583157 2022 2109594 ISSN 0958 3157 S2CID 251485734 Sutton G F Compton S G Coetzee J A 2016 12 01 Naturally occurring phytopathogens enhance biological control of water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes by Megamelus scutellaris Hemiptera Delphacidae even in eutrophic water Biological Control 103 261 268 doi 10 1016 j biocontrol 2016 10 003 ISSN 1049 9644 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Megamelus scutellaris amp oldid 1188891378, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
