South African scientists use bugs in war against water hyacinth weed - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.

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Scientists and community members have found a unique way to deal with the invasive green water hyacinth weed at Hartbeespoort Dam, by introducing a water hyacinth eating bug called Megamelus scutellaris.

View of boats stuck in a sea with invasive green water hyacinth weed at the Hartbeespoort dam, informally known as"Harties", a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, February 16, 2023.View of boats stuck in a sea with invasive green water hyacinth weed at the Hartbeespoort dam, informally known as"Harties", a small resort town in the North West Province of South Africa, February 16, 2023.

“In South Africa, we are faced with highly polluted waters,” said Professor Julie Coetzee, who has studied water hyacinths for over 20 years and manages the aquatic weeds programme at the Centre for Biological Control at Rhodes University. “The boats aren’t going anywhere. It’s affecting tourism in our town… tourist jobs,” Mostert said pointing towards his luxury cruise boat “Alba”, marooned in the weeds.Scientists and community members have, however, found a unique way to deal with the invasion by introducing a water hyacinth eating bug called Megamelus scutellaris.

The insect army has previously reduced the expanse of water hyacinths to a mere 5% on the dam, Coetzee said. At times the weed has covered at least 50% of it.

 

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Amazing..so part of water hyacinth problem of water bodies can be solved by the bug.Some use specialized boats to scoop out hyacinth to be use as fertilizer.Well done!

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