Effective Biological Control of Salvinia molesta in the Senegal River by Means of the Weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae

The invasion of Salvinia molesta in the Lower Senegal River Delta in Mauritania and Senegal in 1999 posed a serious threat to the socioeconomic conditions of the local people as well as to wetland biodiversity. Eventually, an effective biological control of S. molesta was obtained by means of the we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ambio 2003-11, Vol.32 (7), p.458-462
Main Authors: Pieterse, Arnold H, Kettunen, Marianne, Diouf, Sara, Ndao, Ismael, Sarr, Khady, Tarvainen, Anne, Kloff, Sandra, Hellsten, Seppo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biological invasions
Coleoptera
Conservation of Natural Resources
Cyrtobagous salviniae
Dams
Ecological invasion
Ferns - growth & development
Freshwater
Insect larvae
Leaves
Mauritania
National parks
Pest Control - methods
Plants
Plants, Edible
Population Dynamics
River deltas
Rivers
Salvinia molesta
Senegal
Vegetation
Weevils
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Summary:The invasion of Salvinia molesta in the Lower Senegal River Delta in Mauritania and Senegal in 1999 posed a serious threat to the socioeconomic conditions of the local people as well as to wetland biodiversity. Eventually, an effective biological control of S. molesta was obtained by means of the weevil Cyrtobagous salviniae, which was introduced in the river in Senegal and Mauritania in May 2000 and in Senegal in April 2001. In October 2001, it became apparent that the weevils were doing a magnificent job. The color of the plants was turning from green to dark-brown or black, and subsequently the plants started to sink to the bottom. Detailed monitoring of the dispersal of C. salviniae in November–December 2001 confirmed the visual observations of the outcome of biological control. In April 2002, it could be concluded that S. molesta was no longer a problem in the Senegal River.
ISSN:0044-7447
1654-7209
DOI:10.1579/0044-7447-32.7.458