[APWG] Action Alert for the Mid-Atlantic Region: Invasive Giant Salvinia in Virginia, use of weevil biocontrol approved

[plant at plantconservation.org]

Forwarding this Action Alert that was shared with the Mid-Atlantic  
Invasive Plant Council by Marc Imlay, invasive plant expert and member  
of the Board of Directors of the Maryland Native Plant Society.  

Giant Salvinia has been reported in Virginia. If it becomes invasive,  
use of weevil biocontrol has been approved:  
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/environment/invasive%20species/giant%20salvinia/biocontrol%20program

Introducing a weevil. The salvinia weevil, Cyrtobagous salviniae, is a  
tiny black beetle from Brazil that specializes on salvinia species.  
The weevil has been used successfully to combat giant salvinia  
infestations since as early as 1980 in Queensland, Australia. The  
first weevils were brought to the United States 2001.

Request for additional support to researchers to find safe and  
effective biological controls for these non-native invasive species.

Current ongoing research projects include Chinese Privet, Japanese  
Stiltgrass, Common Reed, Hydrilla, Oxeye Daisy, Common Tansy, Field  
Bindweed, Giant Reed, Giant Salvinia, Beefsteak Plant, Small Carpet  
Grass, Russian Olive, Russian Thistle, Scotch Broom, Water Hyacinth,  
wavyleaf Basketgrass, Yellow Starthistle, and Fig Buttercup. Federal  
and State agencies, researchers, and Universities conducting this  
research are listed in North American Weed Classical Biological  
Control Research and Development Program Directory and Contacts  
Version 1, February 13, 2018.  
https://bugwoodcloud.org/ibiocontrol/publications/Weed_Classical_Bio_Ctrl_Directory_Contacts-2-13-28.pdf. as well as Q-Bank, 2013 and  
https://www.ncagr.gov/PLANTINDUSTRY/Plant/bioctrl/index.htm

**************** Current known status of giant salvinia in Virginia
Virginia Invasive Plant Species List:EARLY DETECTION SPECIES (not yet  
widely established in Virginia): Salvinia molesta, Giant Salvinia,  
Medium invasiveness Rank, Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal
https://www.gcvirginia.org/symposium/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/nh-invasive-plant-list-2014.pdf

https://www.lsuagcenter.com/topics/environment/invasive%20species/giant%20salvinia/biocontrol%20program

Rockingham County, Virginia, United States 2010
https://www.eddmaps.org/county.cfm?sub=2785&id=us_VA_51165

****************
Please also see this website for more information about the program of  
giant salvinia in Louisiana: https://www.lsuagcenter.com/giantsalvinia