Scientists Release Natural Predator, of Invasive Weed in 'World First'.<br />'Newsweek' reports that scientists in Australia are <br />looking to combat invasive water weeds by <br />releasing an army of the plant's nemesis: weevils.<br />The release is part of a cooperation between researchers at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Seqwater.<br />Seqwater, one of Australia's largest water companies, agreed to the release of weevils to prevent the spread of the invasive cabomba plant.<br />Seqwater, one of Australia's largest water companies, agreed to the release of weevils to prevent the spread of the invasive cabomba plant.<br />It is a world first. There is no biocontrol <br />program [for cabomba] happening <br />in any other parts of the world, Kumaran Nagalingam, senior research <br />scientist at CSIRO, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Cabomba caroliniana, a fast-spreading weed introduced to Australia from South America in the 60s, can wreak havoc on native plants and animals. .<br />It outcompetes all of our native plants <br />that used to live in the lakes and it can <br />affect animals as well because they don't <br />like to live in such a dense plant material, David Roberts, Senior scientist <br />with Seqwater, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Cabomba grows up to 5cm [nearly 2 inches] <br />a day, strangling native ecosystems, <br />choking waterways and impacting native <br />aquatic animal and plant populations, David Roberts, Senior scientist <br />with Seqwater, via 'Newsweek'.<br />According to 'Newsweek,' cabomba can also block <br />inlets and piping, posing a threat to both boaters <br />and swimmers who could get caught in its tendrils.<br />Cabomba has quite a few natural enemies <br />associated with it, but one thing that we <br />have to make sure is that they are specific <br />only to cabomba—it doesn't eat or <br />double up on other native plants, Kumaran Nagalingam, senior research <br />scientist at CSIRO, via 'Newsweek'.<br />Cabomba has quite a few natural enemies <br />associated with it, but one thing that we <br />have to make sure is that they are specific <br />only to cabomba—it doesn't eat or <br />double up on other native plants, Kumaran Nagalingam, senior research <br />scientist at CSIRO, via 'Newsweek'.<br />The weevils will first be released in Lake Kurwongbah, <br />outside of Brisbane, Queensland, before being <br />released into other lakes around Australia
