Biological control of Alligator weed with a little flea beetle

Alligator weed is one of the world's worst weeds impacting aquatic and terrestrial environments. It can choke waterways restricting flow and causing water quality issues. It also threatens wet terrestrial lands in the Blacktown LGA and irrigation and extraction industries of the Hawkesbury Nepean area.

Blacktown Council controls Alligator weed by spraying the leaves with herbicide or manually removing the weed. These methods are not sustainable as they are labour intensive and expensive. It is also not environmentally friendly as the herbicides enters the system affecting the natural environment. The Natural Areas Team has been working with Central Coast Council to introduce a biological control that is a “sustainable alternative method” compared to the traditional methods of managing Alligator weed, this biological control is a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of control.

The biological control is a little beetle called the Alligator weed flea beetle. The Bushland Officer travelled up to the Central Coast to meet the Central Coast Weeds Officer and collected a healthy number of flea beetles from a Central Coast lagoon. The Officer than travelled back down and released the beetles into Bungarribee creek. The beetles should reproduce and spread out and control the Alligator weed in the near future, reducing or stopping the need to use herbicides in the creek line.

[radmckenzie]

Good work guys! I really wish other organisations would take the time to look rather than panic spray too.

[new-man]

If you all have the beetles where can I buy them.
As no alligator flea beetle sightings are in my north ms area.
Please advise TY kindly