Pistia
''Pistia'' is a genus of aquatic plants in the arum family, Araceae. It is the sole genus in the tribe ''Pistieae'' which reflects its systematic isolation within the family. The single species it comprises, ''Pistia stratiotes'', is often called water cabbage, water lettuce, Nile cabbage, or shellflower. Its native distribution is uncertain but is probably pantropical; it was first discovered from the Nile near Lake Victoria in Africa. It is now present, either naturally or through human introduction, in nearly all tropical and subtropical fresh waterways and is considered an invasive species as well as a mosquito breeding habitat. The genus name is derived from the Greek word πιστός (''pistos''), meaning "water," and refers to the aquatic nature of the plants. The specific epithet is also derived from a Greek word, στρατιώτης, meaning "soldier," which references the sword-shaped leaves of some plants in the ''Stratiotes'' genus. Description ''Pistia stratiotes'' ...
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Samea Multiplicalis
''Samea multiplicalis'', the salvinia stem-borer moth, is an aquatic moth commonly found in freshwater habitats from the southern United States to Argentina, as well as in Australia where it was introduced in 1981. Salvinia stem-borer moths lay their eggs on water plants like ''Azolla caroliniana'' (water velvet), ''Pistia stratiotes'' (water lettuce), and '' Salvinia rotundifolia'' (water fern). Larval feeding on host plants causes plant death, which makes ''S. multiplicalis'' a good candidate for biological control of weedy water plants like ''Salvinia molesta'', an invasive water fern in Australia. However, high rates of parasitism in the moth compromise its ability to effectively control water weeds. ''S. multiplicalis'' larvae are a pale yellow to green color, and adults develop tan coloration with darker patterning. The lifespan, from egg to the end of adulthood is typically three to four weeks. The species was first described by Achille Guenée in 1854. Geographic range ' ...
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