Re: Fw: Plant pest.

From: "Julius Boos" ju-bo at email.msn.com> on 2000.12.09 at 03:43:43(5769) Dear Craig, Thanks for taking the time to inform me, you are probably correct, as I did not WANT to believe that any person or agency would or could release suce a pest with such broard food selections on the inviroment! It eats EVERYTHING! "Sandwichman' is a good name, his little 'house' is like a sandwich, and he sure makes sandwiches of every plant he can get to, above AND below the water! There must be many 'natural' controls and predators in the wild, as I have not run across it 'out there', but in the protected enviroment of the home he goes wild. Thanks again, Sincerely, Julius +More >>Julius, You may be compounding your critters. Insect contols have been introduced for Eichhornia and I also believe for Pistia, but it was after extensive testing and they have been shown to be species selective in their dietary preferences. The insect you describe sounds to me to be a widespread aquatic plant pest known commonly as the China Mark Moth or more colloquially as the "Sandwich Man". They range from at least here in S Fl to Central TX and will damage about any aquatic plant, but are not the insects released to control Eichhornia or Pistia. I don't have it in front of me, but can get you the latin name for the Mark Moth if you wish. Craig<<

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