Biological control of tradescantia (wandering willy)

In December 2021 a combined team from WRC, Jobs for Nature and Mangaiti Gully Restoration Trust released the tradescantia virus into a heavily tradescantia infested area of the gully at the back of Montrose Cres, Huntington. The photo shows the damage the virus does to the leaves. This was taken at the Waingaro site. The virus was released at Waingaro four years ago and in places has wiped out the tradescantia. Hopefully we can achieve the same result. Just to make sure we cause maximum damage, the team also released the 3 types of tradescantia beetles into the same area. Two beetles attack the leaves and the other the stems. On recent inspection things are progressing well with a particularly good uptake and spread of the virus and the beetle that attacked the leaf edge. Photo 1: Tradescantia beetles being introduced. Photo 2:Virus infected tradescantia