Abstract
The host range of a Panamanian moth, Parapoynx prob. rugosalis Moschler, a potential biological control agent against the recently introduced hydrilla, Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, was investigated by confining individual larvae ( n = 535) in styrofoam cups with a fragment of one of 16 aquatic plant species. Feeding by the larvae was negligible on 10 species, and only hydrilla, coontail ( Ceratophyllum sp.), and naiad ( Najas sp.) showed heavy feeding damage. However, larvae feeding on coontail had such high mortality (24% per day) that they probably would not do extensive damage to this plant in the field. Since these moths show a relatively narrow host range, the insect could be considered for importation into the United States.
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