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Changes in leaf hardness and moisture content of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, following feeding by Neochetina eichhorniae Warner (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. D. Wright
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
N. P. Boland
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
J. D. Kerr
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Mathematics and Statistics, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Quensland 4068, Australia

Abstract

Feeding by adults of Neochetina eichhorniae Warner on water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, significantly increased the hardness of the lamina of the youngest leaf and the petioles of the youngest three leaves, while the moisture content of the petioles and laminae was significantly reduced. However, variations in leaf hardness did not significantly affect feeding by the weevils, and leaf age was considered to have a greater effect. The results help explain field observations of the relative abundances of N. eichhorniae and the pyralid Sameodes albiguttalis (Warren), which also attacks water hyacinth.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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