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Students get the hop on creeper
17 Jun 2004
Victorian citrus growers got a helping hand last week in their battle against bridal creeper when students from five schools released thousands of leaf hoppers into creeper infestations. The insects were bred in classrooms part of the Department of Primary Industries' Weed Warriors community education and awareness program.
Students released the bugs where the creeper is rampant and invading citrus orchards as well as smothering native vegetation. The hoppers have been used before for biological control of the creeper but the drought killed off most of them. Bridal creeper has been found in 20 per cent of Sunraysia orchards, where it hampers citrus tree growth, foliage and fruit production. Growers say chemical and physical control methods are ineffective and expensive. The creeper, introduced in the 1850s as a plant for pots, was listed as one of 20 weeds of national significance in 1999.
Weekly Times, 16/6/04, page 5.
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