More Biocontrol Agents Released to Combat Water Lettuce Invasion

VAAL TRIANGLE - Rand Water, in collaboration with the Rhodes Center for Biological Control, another step in combating the spread of water lettuce in the Vaal river. On Saturday, February 24th, over 10,000 biocontrol insects were released upstream and downstream to augment the integrated strategy aimed at halting the proliferation of this invasive species along the Vaal River. Water lettuce is a highly invasive free-floating freshwater weed which was first seen in South Africa in the Suikerbosriver in 2021. Professor Julie Coetzee from the Rhodes Centre for Biological Control emphasized the effectiveness of these insects in controlling the water lettuce. Vaal River Rats SA over the weekend once again encouraged the community to participate in removing the water lettuce manually.