| Several species of Florida's native bromeliads are under attack by an invasive pest weevil called Metamasius callizona, or nicknamed "Evil Weevil". The Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies, the University of Florida, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Division of Plant Industry, are looking at ways to manage weevil populations through biological control's.
Of Florida's 16 species, 13 are not found anywhere else in the United States, and one (Tillandsia simulata) is only found in Florida. The Florida bromeliads are different from the ones found in the West Indies (from which they originated from) in that they have a genetic variation of certain species of bromeliads in Florida, particularly Tillandsia fasciculata. All of Florida's native species of bromeliads are epiphytes.
Want to know more how this pest is invading the southern US, go to my home page below, or visit the University of Florida's website at;
http://savebromeliads.ifas.ufl.edu/
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Here is a link that might be useful: JohnsBromeliads
