In May 2010, the USDA's Agricultural Research Service released "Megamelus scutellaris" as an additional biological control insect for the invasive water hyacinth species. "Megamelus scutellaris" is a small planthopper insect native to Argentina. Researchers have been studying the effects of the biological control agent in extensive host-range studies since 2006 and concluded that the insect is highly host-specific and will not pose a threat to any other plant population other than the targeted water hyacinth. Researchers also hope that this biological control will be more resilient than existing biological controls and the herbicides that are already in place to combat the invasive water hyacinth.