What can be done to stop this “evil weevil”?
Florida is the only place in North America were these bromeliads can be found!
Dorothy L. Harris, Park Ranger
Highlands Hammock and Lake June in Winter Scrub
Florida State Parks March 2002
Recently Highlands Hammock State Park hosted a Bromeliad Symposium to increase awareness of the introduced (exotic) Mexican Bromeliad Weevil. This education day was highlighted by the exceptional speakers that we were very honored to have at our park. Mr. Dennis Cathcart of Tropiflora in Sarasota shared information on “bromeliads as an industry”. Mr. Harry Luther of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens shared of his abundant knowledge on the ecology of these amazing plants. Dr. J Howard Frank and Dr. Barbra Larson of the University of Florida explained more about the creatures that spend their entire existence within these airplants, and they shared information on the devastation caused by “the evil weevil”. Dr. Larson also led a seed collecting exercise and bromeliad identification near our Cypress Swamp Trail.
For the fifty or so participants, it was a fabulous day of education and wonder. To find out that we have only 16 of the 2500 species of bromeliads was pretty interesting, especially when you realize that Florida is the only place in North America were these bromeliads can be found! More sobering was the information that if this weevil is not stopped, eleven species of our native bromeliads, and fifteen different creatures that we know almost nothing about, could be lost forever! Dr. J Howard Frank shared that we do know that these creatures exist and live only within the bromeliads, but other than that, nothing else is really known about them. Some of these aquatic invertebrates are known only from the leaf axils of bromeliads
When you consider that the effects of this damaging weevil have been spotted within four miles of Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, and some of the rarest of bromeliads, his statement seems almost prophetic. What can be done to stop this “evil weevil”? Are we doomed to the lose the natural aerial gardens in our huge oaks, the ones resplendent with bromeliads, ferns and draping spanish moss?
Hopefully not, if the University of Florida and it’s supporters in the weevil program can continue their work. A parasitic fly discovered in Honduras spends the immature part of its lifespan consuming the larvae of bromeliad weevils! Now under strict quarantine, it is proving capable of parasitizing the Mexican bromeliad weevil, and if it can be proven that it will not harm any other organisms in Florida, plans will be made to begin controlled releases in the areas most heavily damaged by this exotic weevil.
This is surely a great deal of information to absorb and if you love bromeliads or airplants, you may be left wanting more information. Or perhaps you are now wondering if there is anything that you can do to help this situation. On March 27th from 9am to 12:00pm, there will be a seed collecting activity at Highlands Hammock. You don’t need expertise or botany experience, just a sense of adventure and a desire to hike around the park. Nature Conservancy volunteer and founder of “Florida Love”, Mrs. Heidi Rhodes will be leading this “workday”, which will consist of learning a bit about the “evil weevil”, and the species that we will be collecting seed from that day-Tillandsia fasiculata or Cardinal Airplant. Basically Heidi will help you to learn the plant you will be looking for, then she’ll be sending you off on a walk through the park with some data sheets. Simply find last year’s flowers, with the fuzzy, fluffy seeds exposed, most are blowing through the air right now, and then collect the seeds, place them in a baggie and jot down a few notes. These seeds will be compiled with others and then sent to a certified grower and if the Mexican bromeliad weevil ever completely wipes out the populations of our endangered airplants, we will then have some safely “in reserve” with which to re-seed the park. This process of “safe-keeping” probably really brings home the possibility that we could very well lose these amazing plants. Why not join us in helping to ensure that Highlands Hammock’s “aerial gardens” remain the lush, lovely sight that they have been for over 70 years. The Real Florida just wouldn’t be the same without them.
Want to join Heidi and help collect seeds?
Please call to sign up 386-6094 then meet at the Cypress Swamp parking lot March 27th at 9:00am. Please wear field clothes, bring drinking water, wear sunblock, comfortable shoes and pack a sense of adventure! You may bring lunch or purchase it at the Hammock Inn concession.