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Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus

Basic information
Scientific name Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus

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イネミズゾウムシ
Common names Rice water weevil
Higher taxon Erirhinidae, Curculionoidea, Coleoptera
Natural range North America
Habitat Parasite on monocotyledonous plants such as Poaceae and Cyperaceae. Rice fields in non-native area. Overwintering along forest edges.
Invasion information
Range in Japan Almost entire Japan Range in Japan
Origin California, USA
Date The first record in Japan was in 1976 at Chita Peninsula, Aichi Pref. This species spread to entire Japan by 1986. The first record in Okinawajima was in 1985.
Route Accidental: Possibly hitchhiking on imported dry pasture grass from California.
Impact Damage on agriculture. Adults and larvae feed on leaves and roots of rice, respectively.
Native organism(s) affected: Rice Oryza sativa
Regulation in Japan This species must be monitored for prediction of agricultrual damage (the Plant Protection Law).
Introduced range in other countries East Asia. The first records in Korean Peninsula, continental China, and Taiwan were May 1988, May 1988, and March 1990, respectively.
Reference Notes
  • CABI (2012) Invasive Species Compendium (Beta) (Accessed on 2012-4-13) http://www.cabi.org/isc/
  • Ecol Soc Jpn (ed) (2002) Handbook of Alien Species in Japan. Chijinshokan, Tokyo (in Jpn)
  • Kayumi & Sakashita (1981) Studies of ecology and control of the rice water weevil. I. Curcumstance of the first discovery at Mie pref. And seasonal prevalence on the early cultivation of the rice plants. Res Rep Agric Tech Cent Mie Pref. 9(3), 1-4 (in Jpn)
  • Kohama & Takahara (2002) Exotic insects in Okinawa. Bull Okinawa Pref Mus. 28, 55-92 (in Jpn)
  • Kojima et al. (2003-2008) Japanese Weevil Data Base (Accessed on 2012-4-13) http://kogane.wem.sfc.keio.ac.jp/jwdb/index.html (in Jpn)
  • Sakashita & Kayumi (1981) Studies of ecology and control of the rice water weevil. II. A comparative stuoly on the overial growth of overwintering imago. Res Rep Agric Tech Cent Mie Pref. 9(3), 5-8 (in Jpn)
  • etc.
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