{"id":43881,"date":"2025-02-06T10:46:41","date_gmt":"2025-02-06T08:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/biocontrol-initiative-to-combat-invasive-water-hyacinth-at-princess-vlei-using-planthoppers-20250204\/"},"modified":"2025-03-19T23:39:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T21:39:42","slug":"biocontrol-initiative-to-combat-invasive-water-hyacinth-at-princess-vlei-using-planthoppers-20250204","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/biocontrol-initiative-to-combat-invasive-water-hyacinth-at-princess-vlei-using-planthoppers-20250204\/","title":{"rendered":"Biocontrol initiative to combat invasive water hyacinth at Princess Vlei using planthoppers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Princess Vlei Forum has launched an experimental biocontrol project using <\/strong><strong>Megamelus scutellaris<\/strong><strong> planthoppers to manage the invasive water hyacinth by causing it to sink and die.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The collaboration includes experts from the City of Cape Town, NGOs, and volunteers, working together to clear hyacinth and protect the aquatic ecosystem.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The project, while still in its early stages, is showing promise, with 5,000 planthoppers already released in the Southfield canal and more consignments planned.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>An experimental project to bring hyacinth, the world\u2019s most invasive water weed under control at Princess Vlei, has seen the release of megamelus scutellaris (water hyacinth planthoppers) as a biocontrol agent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emma Oliver, secretary of the Princess Vlei Forum, explained how the \u201cbugs\u201d worked on controlling hyacinth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe megamelus scutellaris eats holes in the water hyacinth which causes it to sink and die,\u201d she said. \u201cThe bugs are successful when there are millions of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cbugs\u201d are being bred at Rhodes University and couriered to Cape Town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe bugs have been tried in Strandfontein but the water quality wasn\u2019t good enough. However, it is successfully being used at the Hartebeespoort Dam.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Oliver, tackling water hyacinth at Princess Vlei is an ongoing story of successes and failures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cEach year the situation gets worse as a carpet of the pretty but destructive water hyacinth spreads rapidly across the vlei,\u201d she said. \u201cThe dense growth suffocates life beneath it, prevents access to the water and disrupts the delicate balance in the vlei\u2019s aquatic eco-systems.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In August last year, the Zeekoevlei Catchment Forum was formed under the leadership of specialist fresh water ecologist Dr Liz Day, a collaboration which has enabled the creation of the Princess Vlei water hyacinth clearing team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Catchment Forum brings together people from many diverse fields \u2013 the City of Cape Town, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Friends Groups, volunteers \u2013 to find ways to improve the health of the catchment,\u201d said Oliver. \u201cThe team members include City officials from Recreation and Parks, Storm water and River Management (CSRM) Invasive Species Unit which is breeding and introducing megamelus scutellaris or water hyacinth planthoppers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She added that the aim of the biocontrol is to get the planthoppers, in their millions, to eat the hyacinth \u2013 make holes in it, and cause it to sink and die. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Blockquote\" data-pos=\"Middle\" id=\"embed_1655ef74\">\n<div class=\"text\">Large numbers of megamelus bugs are crucial for an effective outcome. The Invasive Species Unit at Westlake is breeding megamelus, and the Forum is paying for an additional consignment of the water hyacinth planthoppers to be couriered from the Waainek Rearing Facility at Rhodes University said Oliver.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Oliver explained, while several consignments will be needed, the first consignment of 5 000 bugs has already been released on hyacinth in the Southfield canal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe biocontrol work is new territory for many on the team, and needs to be carefully monitored,\u201d she shared. \u201cThe success of the operation depends on good communication between the different players. For example, it is essential to ensure that heavy machinery contractors don\u2019t remove the hyacinth where the bugs have been released.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is of utmost importance for all parties to work together in tackling the hyacinth at Princess Vlei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have implemented various tactics to reduce the hyacinth, this includes ground boat crews who are tasked with removing the hyacinth from the waterbody. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe City needs to remove the big heaps of water hycaninth that has been fully removed from the vlei. At the moment we are waiting for the City to do their part as teamwork is essential.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ward 72 councillor Kevin Southgate expressed his gratitude to the Princess Vlei Forum. \u201cI want to express my sincere thanks to the Princess Vlei Forum for taking the initiative and for contributing towards removing the hyacinth from Princess Vlei,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Southgate added that the implementation of boat teams to assist with clearing hyacinth proved beneficial. \u201cThe Princess Vlei Forum has over time always expressed concern for the heavy duty equipment to remove the hyacinth and the damage it brings to the environment,\u201d he said. \u201cThe deployment of the boat and the hand teams will really go a long way in protecting the environment and hopefully reduce the spread of the hyacinth. The project is truly an inspiration and will make a significant impact on the maintenance around the vlei in the months and years to come.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An experimental project to bring hyacinth, the world\u2019s most invasive water weed under control at Princess Vlei, has seen the release of megamelus scutellaris (water hyacinth planthoppers) as a biocontrol 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This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Biocontrol initiative to combat invasive water hyacinth at Princess Vlei using planthoppers | People&#039;s Post<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peoplespost\/biocontrol-initiative-to-combat-invasive-water-hyacinth-at-princess-vlei-using-planthoppers-20250204\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Biocontrol initiative to combat invasive water hyacinth at Princess Vlei using planthoppers\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"An experimental project to bring hyacinth, the world\u2019s most invasive water weed under control at Princess Vlei, has seen the release of 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