It is a sap-feeding mirid that removes a considerable amount of chlorophyll from water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes, Pontederiaceae).

[2] Eccritotarsus catarinensis has been used as a biological control agent on water hyacinth in several African countries and China.

[3] E. catarinensis was considered for release in Australia, but rejected due to potential impact on native Monochoria vaginalis.

[3] Eccritotarsus catarinensis was first collected for biocontrol testing by Stephan Neser of the South African Plant Protection Research Institute.

Its herbivory may have been noticed earlier however, by Bennett and Zwolfer in 1968 in Guyana, Suriname and/or Brazil.