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ARUSHA, Tanzania, Jan. 10 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania is set to introduce Beetle species to control the noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus which is fast spreading in several parts of the east African country.
Scientifically known as Zigogramma Bicolorata, a breed of the insects will start arriving in Tanzania next month from South Africa where they are being used to control the killer plant that is fast claiming lives of livestock and wild animals.
Ramadhan Kilewa, Tanzanian scientist with the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute said Tuesday his institute was working closely with the Sokoine University of Agriculture and CABI Kenya to have the beetles in the country to help mitigate the effects of the killer weed.
"The species have contributed a lot in controlling the spread of the weed in South Africa, Australia, and Ethiopia; that is why we are planning to bring them into the country in February to serve the same purpose," the scientist said when speaking at the stakeholders' meeting held in Tanzania's northern safari capital of Arusha in an effort to address the killer weeds.
Describing the Zigogramma Bicolorata, Kilewa said the species were capable of feeding on an entire killer weed adding that TPRI's plant protection division was at the moment working on a mass rearing and the release of the beetles into areas, which were mostly hit by the Parthenium hysterophorus.
"It is our hope that their introduction will bear fruitful results as we strive to control the spread of the noxious weed which is quickly becoming notorious, over-running cultivated fields of cereals, vegetables, oilseeds," he said. Enditem
