It is learned from the reporter on Nov. 21th that 1.31million leaf beetles have been released by the Agriculture Ecological Station of Yichang in Changyang, Dangyang, Yiling this year, which drove the prevention and cure of alternanthera philoxeroides about 225 thousand mu fields and waters saving the cost over 40 million RMB. This action has effectively curbed the momentum of the spread of “alternanthera philoxeroides”.
Alternanthera philoxeroides is one of the malignant weed in our country. Before the introduction of leaf beetle, 500 thousand mu lands and waters in the city suffered from its disoperation each year, resulting in economic losses of hundreds of millions yuan. In 2012, Agriculture Ecological Station of Yichang constructed a breeding base for leaf beetle in Xingshan, Changyang through scientific research, which ensured sufficient insect source for large-scale biological control. The city also established more than 400 demonstration sites centering on drinking water safety and rivers and lakes management, and the area of prevention and control increased year by year.
Next, the Agricultural Ecology Station of Yichang will continue to strengthen prevention of the biological control of “Alternanthera philoxeroides” and conduct all-round tracking service of rivers, lakes, orchards, tea garden and other prone zone to promote the sustainable development of agriculture. (Journalist