Back in 2012, there was an invasive plant moving through Florida. Several prominent research studies were undertaken, most notably at the University of Florida in their horticulture school.
The researchers tested whether a tiny leaf-eating beetle (the Lilioceris cheni) could help control air potato, a vigorous vine capable of smothering native vegetation, without disturbing the other foliage.
And then they worked with a group of high school students in Broward county who were studying environmental science to try releasing some beetles into the wild.
The students released just 16 beetles into the Long Key Natural Area and Nature Centre in Davie, but they multiplied into the thousands and nearly completely defoliated the air potato vines in the release area.
Using that success as a basis, the scientists at UF released thousands more of the beetles, and the air potato was mostly eradicated over the next decade.
You can read more about all of this in the attached links, but here's a key takeaway:
Rather than relying solely on repeated chemical or physical removal, scientists were using specialised insects to exploit different vulnerabilities in the plant’s growth and reproduction.
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