Above illustration,
"Tillandsia stricta,"
by Margaret Mee,
© Smithsonian Institution,
used with permission.
The following table summarizes the necessary steps to be completed in a classical biological control program. It lists what has already been completed in the biological control program for the Mexican bromeliad weevil and what still needs to be done.
| Steps in Classical Biological Control | Completed Activities | Future Activities |
|---|---|---|
| 1.) Identify the pest | 1.) Metamasius callizona | |
| 2.) Identify the origin of the pest | 2.) Mexico and Central America | |
| 3.) Survey for natural enemies in place of origin of the pest | 3.) Surveys conducted in Mexico, Panama, and Guatemala | |
| 4.) Identify potential biological control agent(s) | 4.) Lixophaga sp. (tachinid fly) | |
| 5.) Import to quarantine facility with required permits | 5.) Lixophaga sp. was imported to DPI quarantine in Gainesville in late 1999 and late 2000 | |
| 6.) Establish colony in quarantine | 6.) Need to establish colony of Lixophaga sp. in quarantine | |
| 7.) Non-target testing in quarantine | 7.) Begin testing with M. hemipterus and M. mosieri (laboratory colonies of both have been established in preparation for these tests) | |
| 8.) Apply for release permit | 8.) If weevil does not attack other Metamasius species, application will be made for a release permit | |
| 9.) Rear biological control agent in large numbers | 9.) Rear fly in laboratory and/or greenhouses outside of quarantine | |
| 10.) Release in areas of high pest population density | 10.) Determine best release sites (selected state parks) and release fly | |
| 11.) Evaluate effects of biological control agent | 11.) Put out weevil-infested plants for later determination of percent parasitism; measure population densities of weevil before and after release | |
| 12.) Modify release plan and make further releases | 12.) Adjust releases sites, schedule, methods, etc. |