Goulburn Broken CMA is working with CSIRO, Benalla Rural City Council and Goulburn-Murray Water to trial control of the highly-invasive aquatic weed Cabomba with the Cabomba weevil (Hydrotimetes natans). The aquarium favourite is a fast-growing weed that dominates waterways by out-competing native plants. The dense underwater stands of the plant also impact native fish, animal and insect habitat, decrease water quality, and impede recreational use of waterways.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, 65 weevils were released, a first for Victoria. The release follows extensive testing by CSIRO and successful trials in Queensland and New South Wales. The weevil feeds exclusively on Cabomba, laying eggs within the plant tissue and boring into stems, weakening the weed and reducing its ability to grow and spread.
