This past September 2010, approximately 1,000 salvinia weevils were released into a designated are for research purposes. Weevils were raised at the Lewisville Aquatic Ecosystem Research Facility (LAERF). On a side note, we were totally unprepared for the mud and muck that is Caddo Lake's bottom. The stains did wash out of my jeans, but the Caddo Lake aroma is still there. We now have several good pairs of chest waders to tackle the lake with. Three months later, in December 2010, area was sampled to see if weevils persisted through the initial cold weather of the season. Out of the twelve hand-sized samples, ten living weevils were found alive. That's not that many, but very encouraging that some living weevils were actually found! The area will be sampled again in mid-February to see if any weevils can be found after the series of cold snaps the region has experienced in January and February of 2011.
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