Nanophyes marmoratus

Arthropoda-Insects

Nanophyes marmoratus (Marbled Purple Loosestrife Flower Weevil) is small (1.4-2.1 mm) weevil, native to Eurasia.  It feeds on the buds and flowers of the invasive wetland plant Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).  It has been widely released in North America as part of a biocontrol program program for Purple Loosestrife, involving 3 other species of beetles,  Four species of beetles, including G. calmariensis, G. pusilla, Hylobius transversovittatus, and Nanophyes marmoratus were released in freshwater wetlands across the United States, with the intention of attacking the leaves, roots and seeds of the plant. It has been released  in wetlands from Quebec to Manitoba, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland, and on the West Coast from Washington to California,   Specific data for occurrences and establishment in tidal areas are avaiable only for the Columbia River estuary, which colonized 32% of release areas.  It is probably widely established, but easily overlooked.  Eggs are laid in the flower buds, and the larvae consume petals, ovaries, and other structures.  Pupae develop in a chamber inside the bud.  Adults overwinter in leaf litter.  The goal of the Purple Loosestrife biocontrol program was not eradication, but reducing the dominance of L. salicaria, and restoring diversity in wetlands. This biocontrol program is considered largely successful (Endriss et al. 2019).

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