Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve Participates in Biological Control Effort Targeting Invasive Water Hyacinth

Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve staff recently joined Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission staff for the first documented release of the water hyacinth leafhopper (Megamelus scutellaris), a federally approved biological control agent used to help manage invasive water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) populations on the Wekiva River. Water hyacinth is one of the most aggressive aquatic invasive plants within the Wekiva River system, forming dense surface mats that reduce sunlight penetration, lower dissolved oxygen levels, restrict navigation, and degrade native wildlife habitat. The leafhopper specifically targets water hyacinth by feeding on the plant and suppressing its growth and spread over time, making it an important tool in long-term integrated management strategies. Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve staff will support ongoing monitoring efforts associated with this release, including tracking the establishment and natural recruitment of leafhoppers within the Wekiva River over time.