The subject is introduced by briefly reviewing the characteristics and distribution of water hyacinth, Eichhornia crassipes, the problems it causes in its introduced range, proposals for its utilization and the likely cost/benefit ratios of these proposals. Control by herbicides, physical removal and drainage are considered in relation to biological control and a protocol for developing management strategies is proposed. The natural enemies used for biological control of water hyacinth are reviewed with summaries of their biologies, host specificities and damage to the weed. Recent research in the USA and Australia on the interactions between Neochetina spp., Sameodes albiguttalis and water hyacinth, and of techniques for integrating the use of herbicides and biological control insects are also reviewed. It is concluded that the two weevils Neochetina bruchi and N. eichhorniae and the moth S. albiguttalis are host specific to water hyacinth, that economical control will follow their introduction into most infestations of water hyacinth in its introduced range, and that biological control is an essential component of management strategies for this weed.
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