Tillandsia

Guides

Metamasius callizona
Mexican bromeliad weevil
Metamasius callizona is an invasive weevil native to southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Panama that was first documented in Florida in 1989. Adult females chew slits in bromeliad leaves near feeding sites and deposit single eggs within these wounds. Larvae mine meristematic tissue and flower stalks, typically killing host plants, while adult leaf feeding is generally non-fatal. Florida populations have grown dramatically larger than native-range densities and now threaten multiple native and endangered bromeliad species.
invasive-species pest biological-control bromeliad-specialist Florida Mexico Guatemala Panama Tillandsia Ananas Lixadmontia-franki holometabolous multivoltine epiphyte conservation-concern endangered-species-threat gardening-industry-vector parasitoid-introduction Beauveria-bassiana-(native-range-pathogen-not-present-in-Florida)