Thursday, May 7, 2015

Students Tackle Hydrilla Problem in NC

Fishing, a beloved hobby nationwide, is starting to become a little more involved than digging up some worms and heading out on your boat for an afternoon.  Aquatic invasive species are reproducing rapidly, completely out competing native vegetation in some areas and making it more difficult to even move a motorboat around a pond or river.  Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) has taken over waterways in Edenton, NC and the students and community members have begun an information campaign and will put up cleaning tools to encourage boaters to clean their equipment to prevent further spread in the area.

Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) tangled on a boat motor by Wilfredo Robles, Mississippi State University, Bugwood.org

If you spot hydrilla while out and about, don't forget to report it!  You can find the smartphone application for your area on the BugwoodApps website and download it before you head out.  Don't forget to include a picture with your report!


Want to know if it is in your area?  Hydrilla distribution map
More images of hydrilla?  Hydrilla certicillata
BugwoodWiki: Hydrilla

Community teams up to fight the spread of hydrilla