WEEVIL REPORT, SUMMER 2021 by Dr. Howard Frank
Soon after Jay Thurrott’ sad death came a meeting at Mounts Botanic Garden when webmaster Michael Andreas announced: “Dr. Howard Frank has asked me if we can move his Bromeliad Biota web site from the University of Florida server where it now resides to the FCBS server. Howard is afraid of losing the server space since he is now retired and is not sure how much longer they will keep his pages online. This should be easily accomplished as Howard’s site consists of only a few pages. He will be able to update and make revisions.” Mike managed it rapidly, and I thank him.
The URL is: https://www.fcbs.org/frank//bromeliadbiota/index.htm
Bromeliad phytotelmata (phytotelmata are the pools of water held between the leaves of many bromeliad species and often housing small aquatic animals).
A bibliography of aquatic biota in bromeliads.
Bromeliad-inhabiting mosquitoes in Florida.
Crustacea in bromeliad phytotelmata.
Rotifera in bromeliad phytotelmata
Bromeliad terraria (the outermost leaf axils typically leak water, but small animals may live in them)
Pests of bromeliads: (creatures that eat bromeliads)
Aphids that eat bromeliads
Dipterous larvae (fly maggots) that eat bromeliads
Leaf beetles and their larvae that eat bromeliads.
Lepidopterous larvae (caterpillars) that eat bromeliads.
Mites that eat bromeliads
Nematodes that eat bromeliads
Scale insects that eat bromeliads.
True bugs (Hemiptera) that eat bromeliads
Weevils that eat bromeliads.
Carnivorous bromeliads: (bromeliads that eat creatures)
Animals as pollinators and seed-dispersers of bromeliad
This website is called Bromeliad Biota, and it is about the insects that are obligatory inhabitants of bromeliads. Do not confuse it with a website of the exact same name but different content created much later by Oscar Ribeiro. Oscar told me that he liked the title I chose, so copied it for his photographic website.
FCBS weevil research activities:
At the October 26, 2020 FCBS meeting at Mounts Botanic Garden, Steve Provost reported on my behalf.
I am not sure there is an official group of weevil researchers any more but:
the February 2020 Newsletter says
Weevil Research:
Howard Frank, PH.D, jhfrank@ufl.edu [my last degree is DPhil, not Ph.D.]
Ron Cave, PH.D, rdcave@ufl.edu
Teresa M. Cooper, PH.D SFBCP@savebromeliads.com
The November 2020 FCBS Newsletter says weevil research: Howard Frank, PH.D [my last degree is D. Phil, not PH.D]
Ron Cave, PH.D
SFBCP@savebromeliads.com [this is a private email address of Teresa Cooper, not the official address of the weevil research group]
The FCBS State Roster says that weevil research is performed by Selby Gardens. WHAT!!