Listronotus elongatus is a species of weevil native to South America, of the genus of underwater weevils Listronotus.[1] It lays eggs on and eats the invasive floating pennywort. The larvae also eat into the stems, reducing the pennywort's ability to grow.
| Listronotus elongatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Curculionidae |
| Genus: | Listronotus |
| Species: | L. elongatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Listronotus elongatus (Hustache, 1939)
| |
Despite not being native to Britain, it has been introduced into waterways in Britain for biocontrol of the floating pennywort, following extensive research to establish that the weevil is not a threat in itself.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Listronotus elongatus, natural enemy of Hydrocotyle ranunculoides". Invasive Species Compendium. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI). 24 November 2019.
- ^ Horton, Helena (17 May 2022). "South American weevils released in UK waterways to tackle invasive weed". The Guardian.
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