Weevils tackle invasive Salvinia in South Africa

This thick green mat extends for as far as the eye can see, it’s an unwanted, invasive South American aquatic plant species called Salvinia minima. Hidden beneath it is South Africa’s Hartbeespoort Dam near Johannesburg, an important source of irrigation for nearby farms and a popular recreation site. This is also the site of the pilot project to tackle the Salvinia. The plant is steadily taking over freshwater bodies in the northern…