22 Aug 2016

The Department of Water Affairs will soon employ weevils to fight Salvania Molesta infestations in some parts of the Thamalakane River, head of aquatic and vegetation control unit Dr Naidu Kurugundla has said in an interview.

The Salvania Molesta also known as Kariba weed, forms a thickened mat which threatens to block water channels when it has overgrown.

Dr Kurungundla said the Department of Water Affairs has been managing the weed with weevils as well as physical approach in the past years.

He said they managed the weed by breeding weevils and insects which when mature were taken to the affected area to feed on weed therefore eliminating it adding that department had necessary resources to achieve the task.

He said although the Tlhamalakane River dried last year, some remnant pools along the Thamalakane River gave room for Salvania Molesta to multiply.

The infestations, he said grew rapidly in winter since the weather condition was not conducive for the weevils to multiply well and the infestations were found by the new floods.

However, he said the Salvania Molesta infestation that was discovered along the Thamalakane River in Matlapana in May this year has been managed and the weevils expected will attack the Kariba weed identified along the Tlhamalakane River near Botswana Defense Force Camp.

Dr Kurungundla pointed out that the Department of Water Affairs plans to take advantage of the dryness of the Thamalakane River to completely eradicate the Salvania Molesta from the patches.

The Thamalakane River, he said was likely to gradually dry completely in a period of five months, therefore he said the department will make use of that state. Ends