''Eccritotarsus catarinensis'' is a species of plant bug from Santa Catarina,

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

. It is a sap-feeding mirid that removes a considerable amount of

chlorophyll Chlorophyll (also chlorophyl) is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words , ("pale green") and , ("leaf"). Chlorophyll allow plants to a ...

from water hyacinth ('' Eichhornia crassipes'',

Pontederiaceae Pontederiaceae is a family of flowering plants. The APG IV system of 2016 (unchanged from the APG III system of 2009, the APG II system of 2003 and the APG system of 1998) places the family in the order Commelinales, in the commelinid clade, in ...

). ''E. catarinensis'' has been used as a

biological control agent Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also invo ...

on water hyacinth in several African countries and China. ''E. catarinensis'' was considered for release in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, but rejected due to potential impact on native ''

Monochoria vaginalis ''Monochoria vaginalis'' is a species of flowering plant in the water hyacinth family known by several common names, including heartshape false pickerelweed and oval-leafed pondweed. It is native to much of Asia and across many of the Pacific I ...

''. ''E. catarinensis'' is being considered for release in the United States, as existing biological control agents have not yet controlled invasive water hyacinth. ''E. catarinensis'' was first collected for biocontrol testing by Stephan Neser of the

South African __NOTOC__ South African may relate to: * The nation of South Africa * South African Airways * South African English * South African people * Languages of South Africa * Southern Africa Southern Africa is the southernmost subregion of the Afric ...

Plant Protection Research Institute. According to Hill et al 1999 he found it in

Santa Catarina state Santa Catarina (, ) is a state in the South Region of Brazil. It is the 7th smallest state in total area and the 11th most populous. Additionally, it is the 9th largest settlement, with 295 municipalities. The state, with 3.4% of the Brazili ...

of Brazil. Its herbivory may have been noticed earlier however, by Bennett and Zwolfer in 1968 in

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

and/or

.
Julien2001Eischhornia.pdf
/ref>

References

Hemiptera of South America Endemic fauna of Brazil Environment of Santa Catarina (state) Diptera used as pest control agents Insects used for control of invasive plants Insects described in 1948 Eccritotarsini {{miridae-stub