Purple Loosestrife

 In light of the recent discussion about purple loosestrife, I thought some 
of you would be interested in this item from Environment News Service. 

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AmeriScan: August 9, 2000

IMPORTED INSECTS BATTLE INVASIVE PLANT

MADISON, Wisconsin, August 9, 2000 (ENS) - An innovative project using 
imported insects to combat an invasive weed is showing signs of success, 
according to Wisconsin researchers. Purple loosestrife is an aggressive, 
non-native plant that is replacing native plants in wetlands, and in turn, 
driving out wildlife that depend on the native plants for food. Brought to 
the U.S. in the 1800s from Europe and Asia, it has flourished in its new home 
because it has no natural enemies. It is now seen as a serious environmental 
threat to state wetlands. To combat the spread of purple loosestrife, 
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) staff and volunteers are 
releasing beetles and weevils imported from Northern Europe to eat the 
plants. The beetles work on the leaves and flowers of the plant, while the 
weevil attacks the roots. So far the insects are proving to be an effective, 
natural control for the nuisance weed. 

DNR biologists began releasing the insects in 1994, after exhaustive testing 
to be sure they would be safe, explains Brock Woods, a DNR ecologist. 
"Careful monitoring has shown them to be an effective, natural control for 
the nuisance weed. They can decimate purple loosestrife while ignoring 
agricultural crops and native plant species," Woods said. So far the beetles 
have been the more successful of the two species. They eat the leaves of the 
plant, but can also prevent flowering. "We thought it might take 10 years to 
see significant results, but in some cases we’re seeing them in two or three. 
I recently stopped by one of our beetle release sites at Horicon Marsh, and 
couldn’t believe it," Woods said. "I did not see a single living loosestrife 
plant in the area where we released the bugs. Now the bugs are moving to 
other loosestrife nearby." 
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