Houston, The Weevils Have Landed!
July, 2010

Battling bugs have come to the aid of weed warriors of the Accotink Creek watershed.

The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Fairfax County Park Authority collaborated to release Mile-a-Minute Weevils (Rhinoncomimus latipes Korotyaev) at our Lake Accotink Park Invasive Management Area (IMA) site. Mile-a-Minute (Persicaria perfoliata, formerly Polygonum perfoliatum) is an annual Asian vine that invades a variety of habitats in the northeast. The Accotink Creek watershed is no exception. Heavy stands of this invasive plant can be found throughout our watershed, blanketing small trees and out-competing native vegetation.

This weevil species has been exhaustively studied to ensure it is not a threat to native species. Adult weevils feed exclusively on Mile-a-Minute foliage, while larvae bore inside the stems. With plenty to feed on, the tiny weevils may be expected to flourish, spreading year by year. Although they are unlikely to eliminate Mile-a-Minute, they can bring its populations down to mere nuisance levels.

More information on weevils here.

Cup O' Weevils, anyone?

Erin Stockschlaeder and Beth McClelland release the weevils into the test plot.

Released weevils on the march.

This weevil has already had some help on this leaf from nibbling Japanese beetles.

Contact Friends of Accotink Creek, E-mail.