A tiny solution to a giant problem: EcoInsects is supporting a new era of weed control

Weeds are among the most serious threats to Australia’s agricultural and natural landscapes, costing the national economy $5 billion annually. Beyond lost productivity, weeds degrade ecosystems, threaten biodiversity, and pose health risks to livestock, pets, and people.  

Despite intensive chemical and mechanical control, most weeds persist or return – with land managers locked into costly cycles of treatment. 

But what if we fought nature, with nature?  

That’s where EcoInsects comes in. Drawing on expertise in insect ecology and scalable field programs, the company is progressing a science-led approach to integrated weed management – one that’s gaining traction with farmers, councils, and catchment managers alike. 

Founded by ag entrepreneur Paul Meibusch and chemical ecologist Dr Russ Barrow, EcoInsects is best known for its dung beetles, having become Australia’s largest commercial supplier of these ‘ecosystem engineers’.  

Now, they’re applying the same science-driven model to a new challenge: invasive weeds. And they’re doing it by reviving a long-neglected resource – biocontrol insects introduced decades ago but never scaled – and re-establishing them where they’re needed most.  

“Russ was out scouting for dung beetles when he saw paddocks full of St. John’s wort,” Paul recalled, recounting the day the company pivoted to include weed biocontrol. “But in a few spots, he noticed these tiny, metallic coloured beetles, Chrysolina, sitting atop the plants.”  

It turns out the beetle, introduced as a biocontrol agent back in the 1930s, was still around. And hungry. 
“They eat their body weight in St. John’s wort every day,” Paul said. “They move through paddocks and demolish it.” 

But decades of ‘set and forget’ biocontrol meant these beetles have largely disappeared from the landscapes where they’re needed most – due to climate shifts, drought, fire, flooding, spraying, or simply a lack of active management. 

“In the Hunter Valley, graziers told us the beetles wiped out severe infestations in the early 2010s,” Paul said. “But now the weed is back, and there are no beetles to fight it.” 

EcoInsects is changing that. They’ve already shipped 80,000 Chrysolina beetles back into the region and launched a program to scale up this coming season.  

With demand rising and few other players in the space, EcoInsects is moving quickly to expand its insect portfolio and infrastructure. When a Gympie facility breeding Jewel beetles for cat’s claw creeper was set to close, EcoInsects stepped in – taking over the site and staff, and turning it into a hub for breeding not only Jewel beetles, but also Madeira vine beetles and other promising species. 

Insect biocontrol offers a regenerative addition to the weed toolkit, allowing farmers to reduce overuse of chemicals, protect beneficial insect and pasture species, and restore ecosystem balance.  

“But most biocontrol has been about releasing something once and hoping for the best,” said Paul.

“We’re changing that. We build populations, support them with the right conditions, and help land managers integrate biocontrol with other tools for long-term results.” 

The Chrysolina is a good example. “Some Hunter Valley landowners were spending $50,000 a year on chemicals, and still not beating St. John’s wort,” explained Paul.  

“But you can’t just put beetles out there and say, ‘Job done.’ You still need to be doing the other weed management approaches, but with Chrysolina adding that additional suppression, within a year or so, you’re on top of it.” 

That knowledge is the point of difference EcoInsects delivers. “We’re not just a supply business – we’re helping land managers understand how these insects behave in real landscapes,” added Paul. 

For EcoInsects, the opportunity is clear: mobilise nature’s mighty little workforce to restore balance, reduce chemical dependency, and create a smarter, scalable system for weed control across Australia’s landscapes.  

If you are a land manager, producer or involved in a farming group and would like to explore biocontrol options for your region, check out our opportunity on AgriFutures grow^AG. platform here.