The bugs have been deployed!

03/10/2024News

The fight between the Megamelus scutellaris and hyacinth is on! Over 60 000 Megamelus scutellaris bugs have been released on the hyacinth on the Hartbeespoort Dam since the end of August and are happily chomping away at the new seedlings. More is in the process of being released. The latest satellite image indicates 7% hyacinth cover on 25 September.
“The satellite rearing stations around the dam did an amazing job keeping the populations of biocontrol agents going in their tunnels over the cold winter. Releases of Megamelus scutellaris started at the end of August when new water hyacinth seedlings were noted,” said Dr Kelby English of the Centre for Biological Control of Rhodes University.