Tiny biocontrol insects, released by the Centre for Biological Control, are preventing flowering and suppressing growth — a long-term solution to South Africa’s most problematic aquatic invasive plant
Without biocontrol, Hartbeespoort Dam could be 70% covered in superweed
The tiny planthoppers are biological control agents and natural enemies of the world’s worst aquatic weed
About 80% of the country’s dams are so enriched with nutrients they could produce toxic algal blooms
Biological control is effective but the real solution would be to fix wastewater treatment plants in Joburg and Pretoria and stop sewage spills