Chapter 19
More than a Century of Biological Control
Against Invasive Alien Plants
in South Africa: A Synoptic View of What
Has Been Accomplished
Martin P. Hill , Vincent C. Moran , John H. Hoffmann ,
Stefan Neser , Helmuth G. Zimmermann , David O. Simelane ,
Hildegard Klein , Costas Zachariades , Alan R. Wood ,
Marcus J. Byrne , Iain D. Paterson , Grant D. Martin ,
and Julie A. Coetzee
Abstract Invasive alien plant species negatively affect agricultural production,
degrade conservation areas, reduce water supplies, and increase the intensity of
wild fires. Since 1913, biological control agents i.e. plant-feeding insects, mites,
and fungal pathogens, have been deployed in South Africa to supplement other
management practices (herbicides and mechanical controls) used against these
invasive plant species. We do not describe the biological control agent species
M. P. Hill (*) · I. D. Paterson · G. D. Martin
Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University,
Makhanda, South Africa
e-mail: m.hill@ru.ac.za
V. C. Moran · J. H. Hoffmann
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
S. Neser · H. G. Zimmermann · D. O. Simelane · H. Klein
Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection, Pretoria, South Africa
C. Zachariades
Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection, Cedara, South Africa
A. R. Wood
Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection, Stellenbosch, South Africa
M. J. Byrne
Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University
of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Centre for Biological Control, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
J. A. Coetzee
Centre for Biological Control, Department of Botany, Rhodes University, Makhanda,
South Africa
© The Author(s) 2020
B. W. van Wilgen et al. (eds.), Biological Invasions in South Africa, Invading
Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology 14,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_19
553
More than a Century of Biological Control
Against Invasive Alien Plants
in South Africa: A Synoptic View of What
Has Been Accomplished
Martin P. Hill , Vincent C. Moran , John H. Hoffmann ,
Stefan Neser , Helmuth G. Zimmermann , David O. Simelane ,
Hildegard Klein , Costas Zachariades , Alan R. Wood ,
Marcus J. Byrne , Iain D. Paterson , Grant D. Martin ,
and Julie A. Coetzee
Abstract Invasive alien plant species negatively affect agricultural production,
degrade conservation areas, reduce water supplies, and increase the intensity of
wild fires. Since 1913, biological control agents i.e. plant-feeding insects, mites,
and fungal pathogens, have been deployed in South Africa to supplement other
management practices (herbicides and mechanical controls) used against these
invasive plant species. We do not describe the biological control agent species
M. P. Hill (*) · I. D. Paterson · G. D. Martin
Centre for Biological Control, Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University,
Makhanda, South Africa
e-mail: m.hill@ru.ac.za
V. C. Moran · J. H. Hoffmann
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
S. Neser · H. G. Zimmermann · D. O. Simelane · H. Klein
Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection, Pretoria, South Africa
C. Zachariades
Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection, Cedara, South Africa
A. R. Wood
Agricultural Research Council-Plant Health and Protection, Stellenbosch, South Africa
M. J. Byrne
Centre for Invasion Biology, School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, University
of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Centre for Biological Control, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
J. A. Coetzee
Centre for Biological Control, Department of Botany, Rhodes University, Makhanda,
South Africa
© The Author(s) 2020
B. W. van Wilgen et al. (eds.), Biological Invasions in South Africa, Invading
Nature - Springer Series in Invasion Ecology 14,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32394-3_19
553