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War of the weevils: Beetles to combat invasive ferns in English canals
photo by Hans Splinter (hans s on Flickr Creative Commons)
A canal in Somerset, southwest England, has become infested with water ferns, which grow rapidly over the surface of water, blocking light and oxygen. This can kill fish and other wildlife.
British Waterways, the organization which cares for the UK’s canals and rivers, will release weevils – herbivorous beetles – into the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal. The hope is that the weevils will eat the quickly spreading ferns, which are an invasive non-native species originally brought by the Victorians from North America to furnish their ornamental gardens.
From a BBC News report:
As the warm weather continues, there’s a danger that it will take over completely, so introducing weevils to the canal acts as a natural pre-emptive strike in getting rid of this weed.
–British Waterways ecologist Robert Randall
Weevils also reproduce rapidly and are seen as a safe solution to the water fern problem, which cost British Waterways over ₤400,000 (€480) to clear last year.
But water fern, also known as Azolla or fairy moss, can be a useful and nutritious food source for livestock and humans as well as be beneficial in some kinds of farming, in preventing algal blooms and discouraging mosquito reproduction.
From a New Scientist blog:
Azolla grows on the surfaces of lakes, ponds and streams and is rich in nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. As an added benefit, symbiotic bacteria that grow with Azolla take nitrogen from the air, making important nitrogen-containing nutrients needed by other food crops like rice.
For more on both the good and the bad on water fern or Azolla check out this fact sheet (PDF) from the Australian government.
Tags: Azolla, beetles, British, canal, England, fern, water, Waterways, weevils
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The non cynic would say they’ve thought that through and know enough to not make such a mistake by now. However, judging by past and even present events, you may have a point. I considered it when first reading about this story, but of course I don’t have anything approaching the proper knowledge to make a responsible statement on that possible trajectory one way or the other. So here’s hoping for the best
It seems a golden mine for the people who sells the weevils. When the insects “decide” to eat other plants, then the problem will appear as an ecological disaster.