Lantana bug no threat to other plants

Chamarajanagar: Scientists of the GKVK in Bengaluru have set to rest fears that the bug which is killing lantana, an invasive weed, in the Bandipur National Park, much to the delight of forest officials, could be harmful to its other plant species. 

The scientists have given the officials the green signal to release the bugs in other parts of the park to destroy more of the fast proliferating weed without worrying about the other plants.

The scientists, Ravi Chandra, Sanjay and Prabhu, involved in a study on the phenomenon,  have suggested the park release the lantana lace bug in sections where the weed is proving most troublesome.  And now forest officials intend to do just this, according to Nr Anthony Mariyappa, Assistant Conservator of Forests, Bandipur range.

The lantana lace bug has come as a relief to the Bandipur park, where officials were planning to manually uproot the weed. Just a couple of weeks ago the field staff noticed the lantana dying under bug infestation in some sections of the park and recommended using the bugs even more widely. 

But  worried that the bug infestation could spread to other plants , the forest officials  wanted an informed decision by scientists to guide them in the matter.

Lantana was a major cause for concern in forests during summer , when  fires are common. As lantana’s seeds are dormant for 10 years, it requires sustained effort by the forest personnel to uproot it and free forests from its regeneration.

So far the lantana lace bug has destroyed the weed over 1,000 hectares, according to Mr Mariyappa.   While assuring that bugs would be caught and released in other areas, he says the government needs to get involved in the operation as well.