Florida has 16 species of native Bromeliads, many of which are
restricted to the southern portions of our state. Florida is at risk
of losing some of its most unique bromeliads forever, as an invasive
exotic pest weevil (Metamasuis callizona), or as us Floridans call it
"Evil Weevil", is destroying populations of 5 of these native
bromeliad species at an alarming rate. Six species of rarer bromeliads
are also vulnerable.

The "Evil Weevil" entered Florida in a shipment of bromeliads from
Mexico, and buy the time it was discovered in a nursery in 1989, it
had become established in Broward County. It is now in 16 counties in
south Florida and is fast approaching Florida's most rare and
endangered bromeliad species in the Everglades.
The Mexican Bromeliad Weevil kills the plants by the tunneling of its
larvae which eats-out the entire base of the plant causing it to fall
from the tree that was supporting it. The weevil prefers large, mature
plants, and the death of many of the breeding individuals quickly
wipes out entire populations. Two species of once-abundant bromeliads
(Tillandsia utriculata and Tillandsia fasciculata) have been placed of
Florida's list of endangered plant species as a direct result of
destruction from Metamasuis callizona.

The "Save Florida's Native Bromeliads" project is an attempt by the
Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies, the University of Florida, and
the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (Division
of Plant Industry) to manage the weevil and conserve the bromeliad
species at risk before the weevil is able to completly destroy them.
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