mats grow from shore and often cover entire waterways thereby disrupting water flow and causing flooding.

has opposite, non-succulent leaves

the white flowers are arranged in stalked, short, headlike spikes, and have a style

adults and larvae devour leaves and upper portions of stems

are bright orange, 1970's

leaf distortion and stunting of the plants is characteristic of feeding by adults and larvae

inconspicuous light tan moths that rest with wings held closely to the body

stems damaged internally by larvae, wilt, turn yellow, and die, 1970's

mats are often completely defoliated by the beetle. Wiley Durden collected beetles by "walking on water" during the initial establishment phase of the program

mats turn yellow but still retain leaves in contrast to the yellow stems defoliated by the alligatorweed flea beetle