)
Metamasius callizona
"Evil Weevil"
)
Adult Metamasius callizona
on T. utriculata showing
damage from larval 'mining'
)
T. utriculata dismembered
by 'Evil Weevil
)
T. utriculata bloomspike
infected and destroyed
by 'Evil Weevil
| click on thumbnails to display photos | |||
Metamasius callizona "Evil Weevil" |
Adult Metamasius callizona on T. utriculata showing damage from larval 'mining' |
T. utriculata dismembered by 'Evil Weevil |
T. utriculata bloomspike infected and destroyed by 'Evil Weevil |
The following text, accompanying the photos, is meant not only to describe the photos in a general sense, but to present an informal chronological story of the personal experience I have had with Metamasius callizona, the "evil-weevil". My hope is that not only Bromeliad lovers but also native plant enthusiasts and people with an interest in our natural environment will see more clearly the tragedy that is unfolding. Not only for Floridians, but also for an increasingly environmentally aware international community, a large and growing number of people who make up a significant part of Florida's ecotourism industry. My fear in this regard is that the credibility of this "industry" could be jeopardized if an entire group of "signature" plants is allowed to become regionally extinct in Florida's natural habitats.
We are all aware that exotic pests threatening our States economic health are given whatever government funding is necessary to guarantee the continued vitality of the affected industry. A great majority of Floridians support this logical policy.
Government officials have long been aware of the overwhelming public mandate to protect our environmental treasures. The huge sums being spent on Everglades restoration are one proof of that. We should now further help educate those officials, elected or appointed, to the tragedy at hand so that the proper financial resources can be made available to assure a successful outcome to this gravely serious invasion.
We're not talking vast sums of money here. Only enough to supply Dr. Howard Frank at the University of Florida with the logistical and manpower support he needs to carry his research to the final levels at the greatest possible speed. The benefits of establishing one or more support facilities in other parts of the state could be an area of discussion.
One important step, being undertaken by the FCBS, is the program to encourage the growing of replacement seedlings from native Bromeliad species. I'd like to see another layer added to this program that would somehow take into consideration the vast genetic variation within individual Tillandsia species, even within very localized populations. Obviously, many more ideas and variables exist. The known variable at this stage is the need for adequate funding.
Let's all support the FCBS in their dedication to addressing this issue.
Thank You,
Olan Ray Creel
September 2000
) Metamasius callizona Mexican 'Evil Weevil' Metamasius mosieri native weevil |
) Metamasius mosieri native weevil |
) T. paucifolia chewed by adult 'Evil Weevil' Metamasius callizona |
) T. balbisiana with 2 M. callizona cocoons |
| Photos labeled with the prefix HF (Hidden Forest) are from an urban cypress strand that surrounds a condo complex in east central Broward County, Florida. The site is less than 10 acres in size. Before the arrival of the "evil-weevil" in 1990, T. fasciculata and T. utriculata were the dominant species. Besides Spanish moss and ball moss, there were at least 4 other Tillandsia species present. T. balbisiana, T. flexuosa, T. paucifolia, and T. x smalliana (2 very distinct forms). In 1990, all T. utriculata (several thousand) were killed by the weevil - preceded some months earlier by the entire smaller populations of T. flexuosa and T. paucifolia. | ) Hidden Forest circa 1995 |
| The only species remaining now are several hundred (formerly, several thousand) T. fasciculata and a few dozen T. balbisiana. The remaining T. fasciculata are steadily declining in numbers due to the evil-weevil with basically no replacement seedlings around to take their place. In the early 90's, seedlings of all of these species existed in massive numbers. I surmise that the seedlings and smaller plants have been eaten or dismembered by adult weevils. This scenario holds true for T. balbisiana also, but on a smaller scale. As a point of interest, it should be noted that evil-weevil adults will feed on any size seedling of any native Tillandsia and in captivity will feed happily on ball moss and Spanish moss. | ) Weevil damage to T. fasciculata Hidden Forest |
| I believe the value of the photos of T. fasciculata lies in how they illustrate the potential genetic variation within this one Tillandsia species. Although T. fasciculata is known for its many "forms" throughout its large range, these photos illustrate how that diversity can be a very localized phenomenon. Although this degree of variation for such a small area may not be the norm, it vividly shows what has and certainly will continue to be lost to the weevil. Incidentally, these plants were all legally collected (salvaged) over a 5 to 7 year period. Several hundred plants - mostly seedlings, salvaged over that period, still annually produce about 1 or 2 "new" forms per year in my collection of plants from that location. The photos represent most but certainly not all of the differences in the various "Hidden Forest" forms. Many are readily recognizable variations that are found in other areas and others are indeed unusual or possibly unique as in the variegated specimen. I tried to be consistent in photographing these plants in similar flowering stages and similar light levels during inflorescence development. | ) Monk Parakeet damage to T. fasciculata Hidden Forest |
HF AL1) T. fasciculata alba form |
HF AL2) T. fasciculata alba form |
HF AL4) T. fasciculata alba form |
HF AL5) T. fasciculata alba form |
HF AL8) T. fasciculata alba form |
HF AL0) T. fasciculata alba form |
HF1) T. fasciculata |
HF2) T. fasciculata |
HF3) T. fasciculata |
HF4) T. fasciculata |
HF5) T. fasciculata |
HF6) T. fasciculata |
HF7) T. fasciculata |
HF8) T. fasciculata |
HF9) T. fasciculata |
HF10) T. fasciculata |
HF11) T. fasciculata v. clavispica |
HF11) T. fasciculata v. clavispica |
HF11) T. fasciculata v. clavispica |
HF12) T. fasciculata |
HF13) T. fasciculata |
HF14) T. fasciculata |
HF15) T. fasciculata v. clavispica? |
HF16) T. fasciculata v. clavispica? |
HF17) T. fasciculata v. clavispica? |
HF18) T. fasciculata v. clavispica? large inflorescence pink |
HF19) T. fasciculata dark leaved |
HF20) T. fasciculata v. clavispica? |
HF21) T. fasciculata v. densispica? |
HF22) T. fasciculata v. clavispica? |
HF23) T. fasciculata |
HF24) T. fasciculata |
HF25) T. fasciculata |
HF26) T. fasciculata |
HF27) T. fasciculata |
HF28) T. fasciculata |
HF29) T. fasciculata |
HF30) T. fasciculata |
HF31) T. fasciculata very large flowers |
HF31) T. fasciculata very large flowers |
HF32) T. fasciculata one of several dwarf types not all stable |
HF33) T. fasciculata |
HF34) T. fasciculata |
HF35) T. fasciculata common type red edging yellow bracts |
HF36) T. fasciculata |
HF37) T. fasciculata |
HF38) T. fasciculata bracts held tightly together and upright very dark green |
HF39) T. fasciculata |
HF40) T. fasciculata stiff, very large |
HF41) T. fasciculata unstable, dwarf type |
HF42) T. fasciculata orange type blooms mid-summer |
HF43) T. fasciculata |
HF44) T. fasciculata dwarf type bracts will turn red-orange |
HF45) T. fasciculata variegated found in 1996 when it was about coffee cup size |
HF45) T. fasciculata variegated |
) T. balbisiana various color forms |
HF) T. balbisiana |
HF) T. balbisiana |
SLC) T. balbisiana |
SAV) T. balbisiana |
SAV) T. balbisiana |
HF) T. balbisiana |
HF) T. x smalliana T. balbisiana |
HF) T. x smalliana |
HF) T. x smalliana close-up of previous photo |
HF) T. x smalliana |
HF) T. x smalliana |
Photos with the prefix WC, are from an area in White City, St. Lucie County. In one public park, where I can't collect the plants legally, there is a rather large and unusual assortment of differing "alba" forms of T. fasciculata. The ones I was able to photograph, using a black sheet as background, are included. I don't know if these forms are unique but the "partial pendant" form with at least 3 different colored flowers on the same inflorescence (at the same time) is interesting indeed. The weevil infects this area and the plants pictured will eventually be killed.
WC AL1) T. fasciculata alba form |
WC AL2) T. fasciculata alba form |
WC AL3) T. fasciculata alba form partial pendant form |
WC AL3) T. fasciculata alba form partial pendant form close-up |
WC AL3) T. fasciculata alba form partial pendant form showing 3 different colored flowers |
Photos labeled SAV are from the Savannas State Reserve, St. Lucie County. Massive populations of T. utriculata are being decimated from this unique scrub ecosystem very quickly. It's also the location of what I labeled "terrestrial airplant gardens" whose destruction I wrote about in more detail in the winter issue of "Palmetto" (for The Florida Native Plant Society). I've included some of the photos used in that issue. T. fasciculata is uncommon in the reserve and many are infected. They are normally found as individual plants growing terrestrially or as rather large colonies, each colony with its own inflorescence color form, hidden away in dense scrub vegetation. I was able to salvage (under State permit) some of the infected dying plants, which subsequently flowered after chemical "treatment". Note the variation even among a rather limited population of this species.
T. flexuosa and T. paucifolia were rendered, in my opinion, locally extinct at this 5,000+ acre reserve early in the weevil's initial attack in late 1998-early 1999.
I have also found infected T. balbisiana at this site. This species also can be found growing terrestrially, sometimes in rather large colonies, and individual colonies often have their own distinct inflorescence color form.
SAV) |
SAV) |
SAV) |
SAV) |
| T. utriculata growing terrestrially in 200 sq. ft. study plot in Savannas State Reserve. In only six months the 'Evil Weevil' destroyed most of these plants. |
|||
SAV) Tillandsia flexuosa seed pods |
SAV) Weevil damage to T. utriculata |
SAV) T. utriculata killed by weevil |
SAV) Small T. utriculata killed by weevil |
SAV) T. fasciculata killed by weevil |
SAV) T. utriculata bloomspike infected & destroyed by weevil |
SAV) T. balbisiana |
SAV) T. utriculata infected by weevil |
SAV) Remains of T. utriculata |
SAV) T. utriculata dismembered by weevil |
SAV) T. utriculata emerging bloomspike destroyed by weevil |
SAV) T. utriculata pup production after weevil damage |
SAV) T. fasciculata infected by weevil |
SAV) T. utriculata 'blitzkrieg' stage of attack |
SAV1) T. fasciculata |
SAV2) T. fasciculata |
SAV3) T. fasciculata |
SAV4) T. fasciculata |
| During a visit by Dr. Howard Frank in July 2000, we investigated a report from a friend of mine, Jeanne Hearn, in northern St. Lucie County near the coastal boundary with Indian River County. We found extensive destruction to mature T. utriculata by M. callizona along US1 in that coastal scrub ecosystem. The residents of Vero Beach, so proud of their massive T. utriculata covered oaks, need to prepare themselves, (psychologically?) for the advancing army that will eventually remove that visual treasure from their surroundings. | ) T. utriculata in Vero Beach |
SLR) T. fasciculata dying from weevil damage |
SLR) T. fasciculata on Sabal Palms dying from weevil damage |
SLR) Pre weevil abundance of T. fasciculata |
SLR) T. fasciculata being killed by weevil |
SLR) T. fasciculata being killed by weevil |
M. mosieri had never before been found in Florida outside of its previous range near the Ft. Myers area and it had never been observed killing native Tillandsias in the wild in Florida. This discovery in St. Lucie County opened up a whole new set of questions and mysteries concerning this native weevil. These specimens were found among varying habitats bordering the St. Lucie River.In some areas they are rather common and exert a noticeable impact on, especially, the seedlings of larger Tillandsias. Only one adult specimen was found in the nearby Savannas Reserve - infecting T. balbisiana.
Metamasius mosieri native weevil |
) Metamasius mosieri native weevil |
) Metamasius mosieri native weevil |
) Metamasius mosieri larvae |
) Metamasius mosieri cocoon |
) Metamasius mosieri pupa |
) Metamasius mosieri infecting seedling |
) Metamasius mosieri infecting small Tillandsias |
) Metamasius mosieri infected T. balbisiana |
) Metamasius mosieri cocoon |
) Metamasius mosieri in T. utriculata |
) Metamasius mosieri cocoon in T. utriculata |
) Unidentified M. mosieri species found July 2000 |
) Side view of unidentified M. mosieri species |
) T. bartramii/simulata infected by new possible dark form of M. mosieri species |
) T. bartramii?/simulata? host plant for new possible dark form of M. mosieri species |
) Plants from area infected by new weevil possibly T. simulata |
I've observed this alien weevil decimate entire reserves and ecosystems of their dominant Bromeliads in very short time periods. It then "entrenches" itself - at least for a proven decade now. It spreads rapidly-almost beyond what common logic might allow. I have found it in many tiny isolated "remnant" forests and even undeveloped residential lots - miles from the nearest main infestation. This is a true statewide ecological disaster - in progress now for over 10 years.
The citrus industry, somewhat confusingly, has its own recently well publicized "evil-weevil". Its larvae feed on the tree roots - affecting productivity and eventually killing the tree. For a pest with such profound economic implications, no amount of public funds will be denied in searching for a cure or control. Floridians consider this a valid expenditure of public funds to protect our state economy.
Beyond science, beyond ecology, beyond extinction and the intangibles of scenic wonder, lie those realms of politics and economy. The leaders, elected or appointed, of our State and Federal governments must now realize that economically speaking, Florida's skyrocketing industry of ecotourism could be undermined and discredited on an international scale - if those now more ecologically aware tourists ask why Florida's precious native "airplants" were allowed to disappear. What will we tell them?
Olan Ray Creel
August, 2000