A Guide to Mass Rearing the Salvinia Weevil for Biological Control of Giant Salvinia A Guide to Mass Rearing the Salvinia Weevil A Guide to Mass Rearing the Salvinia Weevil for Biological Control of Giant Salvinia Allen Knutson and Julie Nachtrieb Project Coordinators Chapter Authors Chapter 1 Giant Salvinia, Salvinia Weevil, and Biological Control of Giant Salvinia Allen Knutson and Abhishek Mukherjee Chapter 2 Water Quality Parameters Important to Growing Giant Salvinia Allen Knutson Chapter 3 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil for Biological Control of Giant Salvinia at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility Julie G. Nachtrieb Chapter 4 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil in Outdoor Tanks at Caddo Lake, Texas Patrick Ireland, Allen Knutson, and Lucas Gregory Chapter 5 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil in the Greenhouse Lee J. Eisenberg and Seth J. Johnson Chapter 6 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil in Ponds Dearl Sanders, Wendell Lorio, and Keith Whitehead Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Special Publication ESP-475 A Guide to Mass Rearing the Salvinia Weevil Table of Contents List of Figures .........................................................................................................................iv List of Tables ............................................................................................................................v List of Acronyms and Abbreviations ........................................................................................v Preface ....................................................................................................................................vi A Note About Permits ...............................................................................................................vi Disclaimer .................................................................................................................................vi Chapter 1 Giant Salvinia, Salvinia Weevil, and Biological Control of Giant Salvinia ..............1 Giant Salvinia: Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction .......................................................2 The Salvinia Weevil: Life Cycle and Development ......................................................................4 Biological Control of Giant Salvinia ...........................................................................................6 References ...................................................................................................................................7 Chapter 2 Water Quality Parameters Important to Growing Giant Salvinia ...........................9 pH ............................................................................................................................................10 Nitrogen ...................................................................................................................................10 Conductivity and Salinity .........................................................................................................11 Alkalinity ..................................................................................................................................12 Iron and Other Micronutrients .................................................................................................12 Water Testing Laboratories........................................................................................................12 List of Suppliers ........................................................................................................................12 References .................................................................................................................................12 Chapter 3 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil for Biological Control of Giant Salvinia at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility ...........13 Introduction .............................................................................................................................14 Salvinia Weevil Rearing.............................................................................................................14 Design of Rearing Containers ...................................................................................................14 Culture Box Specifications and Costs ........................................................................................16 Plant Cultures ...........................................................................................................................16 Cost of Supplies ........................................................................................................................16 Weevil Inoculation....................................................................................................................16 A Guide to Mass Rearing the Salvinia Weevil i Population Monitoring .............................................................................................................18 Berlese Funnel Costs ...............................................................................................................19 Weevil Harvesting for Field Release, Cleaning Boxes, and Initiating New Cultures ...................19 Salvinia/Weevil Augmentations and Thinning of Cultures ........................................................19 Overwintering ..........................................................................................................................20 Cold Frame Specifications and Pricing ......................................................................................20 Weevil Production Estimates ....................................................................................................20 Cost Analysis ............................................................................................................................20 References .................................................................................................................................23 Chapter 4 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil in Outdoor Tanks at Caddo Lake, Texas ...................25 Introduction .............................................................................................................................26 Materials and Design ................................................................................................................26 Greenhouses .............................................................................................................................26 Weevil-Rearing Tanks ...............................................................................................................27 Getting Started .........................................................................................................................29 Water Quality ...........................................................................................................................29 Stocking Giant Salvinia and Weevils ........................................................................................30 Monitoring Weevil Abundance .................................................................................................31 Harvesting Weevils for Release ..................................................................................................33 Cleaning and Refilling the Tanks ..............................................................................................34 Annual, Monthly, and Weekly Maintenance .............................................................................34 Weevil Production and Labor Requirements ............................................................................35 List of Supplies .........................................................................................................................36 Greenhouse and Tank Structural Equipment ............................................................................36 Water Quality Monitoring Equipment .....................................................................................36 Water Amendment Products .....................................................................................................36 Weevil Harvest and Tank Cleaning Equipment .........................................................................36 Chapter 5 Rearing the Salvinia Weevil in the Greenhouse .....................................................37 Introduction .............................................................................................................................38 Facility Design and Construction .............................................................................................38 ii A Guide to Mass Rearing the Salvinia Weevil Physical Layout .........................................................................................................................38 Rearing Tanks ...........................................................................................................................38 Water Quality, Filters ...............................................................................................................39 Reservoir and Pump ................................................................................................................40 Algae Filter ..............................................................................................................................40 Lighting ....................................................................................................................................40