NEW RECORDS FOR EUHRYCHIOPSIS-LECONTEI (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE) AND THEIR DENSITIES IN WISCONSIN LAKES

The native aquatic weevil, Euhrychiopsis lecontei is currently being r esearched as a potential biological control for the exotic aquatic mac rophyte Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), yet little is k nown about its specific distribution in North America. In this study, E. lecontei was collected in 25 of 27 lakes surveyed for the weevil in Wisconsin, greatly increasing the known distribution of the species i n this state. E. lecontei densities evaluated in 14 Wisconsin lakes ra nged from <0.01 to 1.91 weevils per apical stem of milfoil. These new records indicate that E. lecontei is widespread throughout Wisconsin a nd is associated with natural declines of M, spicatum in some lakes. A dditional sampling for E. lecontei and research on its ecology and lif e history are needed to understand the role of this organism in aquati c ecosystems.