Weevils the good guys in Florida tree war

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May 25, 1999
Web posted at: 2:23 p.m. EDT (1823 GMT)

BROWARD COUNTY, Florida (CNN) -- Score one for the weevils.

The melaleuca weevil, introduced to south Florida by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1997, is proving an unlikely hero in a last-ditch effort to combat an Australian pest that is spreading uncontrollably.

The melaleuca tree, introduced decades ago, has been taking over about 50 acres per day and has resisted cutting, poisoning and even burning. The only remaining solution was to introduce a natural enemy -- the weevil, also native to Australia.

Because the insect's diet consists of nothing but melaleuca leaves, in test areas the weevils are eating the tender young leaves as fast as the trees can produce them.

"They're happy here," says entomologist Ted Center, whose team introduced the weevil. "There's so much food they don't know what to do with it all."

Because the bugs are adapting so well, the government has expanded the original 13 weevil test colonies to more than 40.

Scientists don't expect to completely eradicate the melaleuca trees. Each tree canopy carries some 60 million seeds, and Florida's frequent spring wildfires help trigger their release. But scientists think the weevil may at least slow the spread, bringing nature back into balance.

Miami Bureau Chief John Zarrella contributed to this report.

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