ABSTRACT Multiple biological control agents have been developed and released to increase control and reduce treatment costs of Pontederia (Eichhornia) crassipes in Florida. Although two species of weevil (Neochetina eichhorniae and Neochetina bruchi) and the planthopper (Megamelus scutellaris) utilise P. crassipes for feeding and reproduction, little is known about their interactions including any negative interactions that might reduce their individual or overall effectiveness in suppressing the plant. Megamelus scutellaris was provided with the choice of weevil-damaged or undamaged plants and allowed to oviposit. Plants were then monitored individually for nymph emergence to determine the plant preference for adults. There were no differences in F1 emergence numbers among the treatments indicating that in this specific situation the potential for negative interactions between Neochetina spp. and M. scutellaris is minimal. Additional studies are required to quantify the potential for other types of interactions among these biological control agents.

中文翻译：

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生物防治剂对水葫芦的相互作用：食草动物对黄花蜈蚣产卵和发育的影响

摘要 已开发并发布了多种生物防治剂，以增加对佛罗里达州凤眼莲（Eichhornia）的控制并降低处理成本。尽管两种象鼻虫（Neochetina eichhorniae 和 Neochetina bruchi）和飞虱（Megamelus scutellaris）利用 P. crassipes 进行觅食和繁殖，但对它们的相互作用知之甚少，包括任何可能降低其个体或整体抑制植物有效性的负面相互作用. Megamelus scutellaris 可以选择受象鼻虫损坏或未损坏的植物并允许产卵。然后单独监测植物的若虫出现以确定植物对成虫的偏好。处理之间的 F1 出现数量没有差异，表明在这种特定情况下，新切蒂纳属之间存在负相互作用的可能性。和 M. scutellaris 是最小的。需要进行额外的研究来量化这些生物控制剂之间其他类型相互作用的可能性。