Centre for Biological Control - CBC

In early August, Grant Martin and Kim Canavan travelled to Portugal to collect a population of the cone weevil, Pissodes validirostris, a potential biological control agent for invasive maritime pines, Pinus pinaster in South Africa. The fieldwork was conducted in collaboration with Dr Núñez and Prof. Hélia Marchante from the Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra (ESAC).

Pinus pinaster is one of the most widespread invasive trees in the Cape Floristic Region, where it can transform natural ecosystems. This project aims to develop P. validirostris as a biological control agent to reduce cone seed production, helping to limit the spread of these invasive pines and improve the long-term management of invaded landscapes.

What a wonderful evening celebrating Prof. Paterson

What can a mite tell us about saving a forest? In his inaugural lecture, Entomology Professor Iain Paterson explored decades of research into biological control. From an invasive cactus in South Africa to the African tulip tree threatening biodiversity in the Pacific Islands.

Centre for Biological Control - CBC

Read more: https://www.ru.ac.za/latestnews/inaugural_i_paterson-1.html

📸 Ntomb’Zekhethelo Ncanana

It is your chance to nominate Mzansi’s Insect of the Year! The The Entomological Society of Southern Africa is running a great competition- watch/read about it here:

‘The small things that run the world’: Your chance to nominate Mzansi’s Insect of the Year | News24 While many people regard insects as pests, the reality is that we depend on them every single day. From pollinating crops to recycling nutrients, they keep ecosystems alive. Now you can vote for your favourite one in the Mzansi Insect of the Year competition.

Salvinia minima at Hartbeespoort Dam update

A strain of the biocontrol agent, Cyrtobagous salviniae, was approved for release against Salvinia minima (or common salvinia) in late 2024. However, due to funding constraints, rearing and release efforts were limited. We could only fund a small first release conducted in March 2025 along the Crocodile River at Hartbeespoort Dam. A second release was conducted in August 2025 at Vaalkop Dam, with the majority of available weevils retained for further rearing. The weevil is proving difficult to rear in high numbers, so since then, several additional small consignments have been released at Harties and Vaalkop dams to support field establishment while rearing populations continue to expand.

Following the successful reduction of water hyacinth at the beginning of this year at Harties, common salvinia cover increased steadily from about 10 ha to 440 ha (24%). Cover appears to have stabilised in recent weeks and we continue to monitor this. The Vaalkop Dam community based rearing programme is performing well, maintaining healthy rearing populations and supporting ongoing production efforts. At our Waainek mass-rearing facility, efforts are focused on optimising rearing conditions and increasing colony sizes to enable larger-scale production and early-season releases aimed at preventing extensive common salvinia infestations in the next growing season.

Sign up for this webinar on bugw**d, a big w**d in South Africa and beyond

On 29 July our Invasive Plant Mangement series, suppported by JRS Biodiversity Foundation will put the spotlight on yet another highly disruptive dominant invasive alien plant species: bugw**d (Solanum mauritianum). This workshop will highlight actionable control and management strategies for bugw**d. We will explore a comprehensive mix of mechanical clearing, herbicide applications, and biological control methodologies. By walking through, step-by-step, how to select, combine, and execute these techniques in the field, this session equips teams with the practical tools necessary to suppress infestations and drive successful habitat restoration. Join us with the link below: https://sharescreenafrica.org/events/workshop-on-the-control-of-bugw**d-in-southern-africa-4a003

More pictures from Friday's Open Day!

What a great day was had on Friday! Thanks South African National Biodiversity Institute for hosting such a successful day!

CBC Researcher Kim Canavan will be co-chairing an upcoming webinar that will explore the impacts and management of Nassella grass invasions in South Africa. Everyone is welcome to join in the discussion, sign up by emailing [email protected]
More details to come!

Pop into SAIAB if you're in Makhanda and experience the many ways in which SAIAB contributes to the conservation of our aquatic biodiversity

Just 4 Days to Go!

The countdown has begun! 🎉

This Friday, the NRF-SAIAB opens its doors for a fun-filled day of science, discovery and exploration as part of the Department of Science,Technology and Innovation SA (DSTI) National Science Month.

Bring your family, friends and classmates and enjoy:
🔬 Interactive science exhibitions
🧪 Laboratory tours
🐟 Aquatic biodiversity displays
🎓 Career and study information
🎨 Hands-on science activities for all ages

📅 Friday, 24 July 2026
🕘 09:00 – 16:00
📍 NRF-SAIAB, Somerset Street, Makhanda

🎟️ Entry is FREE and everyone is welcome!

If you're bringing a school or large group, please RSVP in advance to help us prepare.

📧 [email protected]
☎️ 046 603 5878

We can't wait to welcome you!