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
Biological control is effective but the real solution would be to fix wastewater treatment plants in Joburg and Pretoria and stop sewage spills
The coverage of the invasive superweed has been reduced to 12.5% from 40% in February
About 300 000 planthoppers have been released on Hartbeespoort Dam to control the green horror
Poorly treated wastewater in Tshwane is to blame for the water hyacinth and cyanobacteria colonies