Two days after releasing 15 Neochetina bruchi (Hustache) adults over 10 water hyacinth plants grown in a plastic
bucket filled with 15 lit, of water in [O replicates, 28.1% reduction in inflorescence was recorded. The rate of reduction
increased through successive weeks to reach a maximum of 86.8% after 9 weeks from weevils release compared to non
infested plants. The inhibition of inflorescence rate was proportional to the rate of damage caused by Neochetina
feeding stages to water hyacinth. Elimination of flowering by the action of Neochetina reflects, undoubtedly, in
reducing seeds’ production. N. bruchi reduced, also, water loss caused as a result of evapotranspiration through plant
leaves. Nine weeks after weevils release, only 4.2 lit, of water was lost, opposed to 7.7 lit, from the same amount of
water occupied with uninfested water hyacinth, saving 44% of water. This percentage reached 77% after 14 weeks of
release to confirm the important role of Neochetina weevil in reducing water loss through evapotranspiration by adults’
feeding that reduce plant leaves exposed area.
Key Words: Neochetina bruchi, Water hyacinth, Biological control, Inflorescence reduction, Water loss
reduction.
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