The milfoil weevil is a tiny, specialized marine insect indigenous to The Us that might have some very beneficial effects for humanity and local ecosystems. This small bug could be very helpful because it consumes the invasive flora known as milfoil and poses no threat to humans.
Two types of milfoil exist in the Us. One is native and the other invasive (Eurasian Milfoil). The indigenous species is not a trouble but the Eurasian one is a major environmental menace. It is this one that is making the milfoil weevil so important.
Eurasian milfoil (the only one that will be referred to in the rest of the article unless otherwise stated) in all likelihood found its way into North America somewhere between 1800's and the 1940's as it clung to Ships or was tossed out as packaging material. Because of its ability to travel on ship anchors, bottoms, and propellers it spread widely, bringing with it drastic ecological shifts and extra problems for humanity. Luckily this can spread the milfoil weevil as well.
It spreads quickly and destroys ecosystems by choking out the native flora life which reduces food for water fowl, reduces habitat for fry, and reducing fishing by animals. The large mats it forms cuts the oxygenation of water by wind that leads to stressed fish and algae blooms.
For humans, milfoil growth means a loss of yachting, bathing, fishing and waterskiing areas. For communities, the dense mats can clog water intakes or overflows, causing water shortfalls in some places and flooding in others. In dykes, they foul and break generators and reduce power production.
The tiny milfoil weevil seems to be the panacea to this plague. The fact that it is native prefers Eurasian milfoil over native milfoil, and kills the colonies bit by bit, giving indigenous species time to recover, make this the ideal. With a high reproduction rate and a taste for milfoil, the milfoil weevil and a smart and safe way to remove the unwelcome milfoil. When taking into consideration how quick the milfoil propagates, it is obvious that weevils are the perfect solution to controlling the problem.
It spreads when small pieces break off and sink to the bottom, there they take root. Using large aquatic harvesters are not the solution as the break up the milfoil too much and it grows right back. Vacuum dredging works a small better because no broken parts are left behind, but at the same time the vacuum disrupts the water and may leave no plant life at the bottom.
With a taste for Eurasia milfoil rather than the indigenous milfoil, the weevil eats the flora from the inside out, ultimately destroying the whole flora. With only 30 days to live, the milfoil weevils will go through three generations before coming ashore for the winter. Although they have wings they have seldom been know to fly so no one know if milfoil weevils fly to land or swim. Once established in a habitat, the milfoil weevil will live even through the coldest Minnesota winters.
Two types of milfoil exist in the Us. One is native and the other invasive (Eurasian Milfoil). The indigenous species is not a trouble but the Eurasian one is a major environmental menace. It is this one that is making the milfoil weevil so important.
Eurasian milfoil (the only one that will be referred to in the rest of the article unless otherwise stated) in all likelihood found its way into North America somewhere between 1800's and the 1940's as it clung to Ships or was tossed out as packaging material. Because of its ability to travel on ship anchors, bottoms, and propellers it spread widely, bringing with it drastic ecological shifts and extra problems for humanity. Luckily this can spread the milfoil weevil as well.
It spreads quickly and destroys ecosystems by choking out the native flora life which reduces food for water fowl, reduces habitat for fry, and reducing fishing by animals. The large mats it forms cuts the oxygenation of water by wind that leads to stressed fish and algae blooms.
For humans, milfoil growth means a loss of yachting, bathing, fishing and waterskiing areas. For communities, the dense mats can clog water intakes or overflows, causing water shortfalls in some places and flooding in others. In dykes, they foul and break generators and reduce power production.
The tiny milfoil weevil seems to be the panacea to this plague. The fact that it is native prefers Eurasian milfoil over native milfoil, and kills the colonies bit by bit, giving indigenous species time to recover, make this the ideal. With a high reproduction rate and a taste for milfoil, the milfoil weevil and a smart and safe way to remove the unwelcome milfoil. When taking into consideration how quick the milfoil propagates, it is obvious that weevils are the perfect solution to controlling the problem.
It spreads when small pieces break off and sink to the bottom, there they take root. Using large aquatic harvesters are not the solution as the break up the milfoil too much and it grows right back. Vacuum dredging works a small better because no broken parts are left behind, but at the same time the vacuum disrupts the water and may leave no plant life at the bottom.
With a taste for Eurasia milfoil rather than the indigenous milfoil, the weevil eats the flora from the inside out, ultimately destroying the whole flora. With only 30 days to live, the milfoil weevils will go through three generations before coming ashore for the winter. Although they have wings they have seldom been know to fly so no one know if milfoil weevils fly to land or swim. Once established in a habitat, the milfoil weevil will live even through the coldest Minnesota winters.
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Before you aquire Milfoil Weevil, make sure you visit Dave Duncan's excellent website on Milfoil Weevil, www.milfoilweevil.com
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