Guest Column/Highlands Hammock State Park
Dorothy L. Harris, Park Services Specialist

Metamasius callizona, the "Evil Weevil" or where did all those bromelads go?
History of presence of Metamasius callizona
(Mexican Bromeliad Weevil)
Highlands Hammock State Park
Compiled June 2002
D. Harris, Park Ranger

This narrative serves as a descriptive account of the presence, impact, and history of the M. callizona at Highlands Hammock State Park. It has been documented in an effort to assist in the eradication of this invasive exotic weevil.

Metamasius callizona originated in Veracruz, Mexico (documented in 1883), first found in a bromeliad nursery in Ft. Lauderdale November 1989, and subsequently was found in residential and natural areas of central and northern Broward County. The spread across Florida then began.

May 1994: Dr. J Howard Frank (entomology & nematology Uof Fla.) searched Highlands Hammock State Park during a 4 day visit to southwest Florida and found no evidence of M. callizona.

May 1999: On March 23, 1999 J. H. Frank and J. Salas did find M. callizona in Tillandsia utriculata at Highlands Hammock State Park.

July 2001: Request was made by D. Harris to Barbra Larson for more information about this exotic Pest for the purpose of education (newspaper article), after researching bromeliads on Internet and finding information about weevil on a web site.

August 2001: Plans discussed with other Rangers to begin plans for monitoring and seed collecting. Barbra Larson to forward information as it came available.

Feb. 2002: Ranger D. Harris wrote an informational education column for local papers regarding M. callizona and the plans for an upcoming symposium on this weevil at Highlands Hammock. (Highlands Today, News-Sun, Herald Advocate, Lake Placid Journal, several websites for brom. Societies)

March 2002: Ranger D. Harris hosted a one-day educational seminar regarding M. callizona, approximately 75 people from various areas of Florida attended to listen to guest speakers, Dennis Cathcart-Tropiflora growers/Sarasota, Harry Luther-Director of Selby Gardens, J. Howard Frank-U of Fla., and Barbra Larson-U of Fla. An excellent series of presentations explained about the weevil, its presence here, the impacts, and the possible solutions. Collections of seeds began with Tillandsia utriculata. Many mature plants were discovered already on the ground due to previous tropical storm in September 2001. Plants were just beginning to release seed, some was collected and forwarded by B. Larson to certified grower. Plans began for seed collecting workdays. A survey of area where M. callizona (historic orange grove) had been previously found by J..H. Frank in 1999 revealed no M. callizona or damage from them. Where did they go?

April 2002: First seed collecting workday was planned, about 6 people attended, no plants with seed were discovered during workday. (led by volunteer Heidi Rhoades). Ranger D. Harris begins collecting seed from T. fasciculata. Collected from West residence area
GPS coordinates: N27*28.279’ W081*33.671’. Collected from entrance road into Family camping area GPS coordinates: N27*28.297’ W081*31.871’ & N27*28.343’ W081*31.884’

May 2002: Several downed bromeliads discovered at park entrance under large oak tree. (GPS Coordinates: N27*28.261’ W081*30.903’) Weevil cocoons found. Positive ID provided by U of Fla. Barbra Larson via digital photos. Within several days, many more bromeliads down, larvae, and adults of M. callizona positively identified, Uof Fla. notified as well as FPS District 4 Biologist Ken Alvarez

June 2002: Seeds from T. fasciculata forwarded to certified grower (Russell’s Bromeliads in Sanford, Fl. ) Several damaged bromeliads discovered under large oak in picnic area of the park. cocoons within them from M. callizona. (GPS coordinates: N27*28.207’ W081*31.969’)

June 2002: D. Harris begins surveying other areas of the park for additional bromeliad species and weevil damage. Cocoons found along County Road 634 across from the picnic area entrance (GPS coordinates: N27*28.262’ W081*32.112’) and again approximately
halfway between picnic area entrance and County Rd. on the north side of the road. More cocoons on north side of the road at the exit of county road cutoff. Damage is minimal at this time. Tillandsia balbisiana located across from picnic area entrance- (GPS coordinates: N27*28.254’ W081*31.950’) A total of five (5) plants found with moderate search by D. Harris and volunteer. Three (3) additional plants located on the ground (GPS coordinates: N27*28.255’ W081*32.005’) in healthy condition about halfway between picnic area and county road cutoff, also on north side of the roadway. Additional two (2) specimens of T. balbisiana located on south canal (GPS: N27*27.803’ W081*32.305’), and one (1) found in vicinity of youth camp (GPS: N27*28.181’ W081*33.774’). None of these had seeds available for
collection, they will be monitored and revisited for seed collection. Tillandsia variabilis (GPS: ) positively identified via digital photos to
B. Larson (had previously been ID by Harry Luther-(Selby Gardens). One plant from this grouping found on ground-healthy. Some seeds available, had begun to germinate, forwarded to grower along with a poor seed sample from a T. balbisiana that was also found on the ground (poor condition-dried out, nearly dead) in vicinity of ones previously mentioned. The T. variabilis will prove difficult to collect seed as it is about 20 feet up on large Cypress in the water. (on Cypress Swamp Trail directly across from first sitting area over the main water area-just before catwalk thins)

Other species on U of Fla. collect list include T. flexuosa, T. paucifolia, and T. pruinosa, none of which have been found at HHSP. T. flexuosa is found in Highlands County so we will continue to look for it.

July 2002: Emails received from B. Larson, H. Frank, and O. Creel regarding situation offers little hope for control of outbreak. Best suggestions are to continue seed collection and begin a photo database for future reference in the very likely event that the park
experiences a drastic decline in species and density. Biological control still not yet located.- on a more positive note, approximately 6 additional T. balbisiana located along south canal roadway. GPS coordinates: N27*27.820’ W081*31.884’ –located at area in location of 90* bend of canal-all too high or inaccessible for seed collection, N27*27.865’ W081*31.883’ several plants removed from the water at this location they were on a large bay that had fallen into canal. Plants will be held in vicinity of historic herbarium (old admin) to wait for flowering and seeding. One inflorescence has some marginal seed in it, will forward to grower.

Per owner of Russell’s Bromeliads via phone conversation on 6/26/02, all seeds thus far sent have been received and are undergoing germination. Discussion entailed his methods used to separate HHSP seed from others, as well as the fact
that no other T. balbisiana seeds have been received, nor any T. variabilis. Per him please be sure to send as much as possible as the only species so far received are T. fasciculata and T. utriculata. Those species are currently well represented
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