Re: Purple Loosestrife

On Thu, 10 Aug 2000 21:44:52 EDT Blee811@aol.com writes:
> ===>This makes me much more nervous than genetic modification of 
> plants

Bill --

I agree!!  "Beetles and weevils," oh my!  There are no examples of
genetically modified plants or animals causing harm to anything other
than some people's personal ethics.  On the other hand, there are MANY
examples of ecological disaster caused by introducing new species to
combat previously introduced species (that is, after all, why the
Australian government is so hard-nosed about importing/exporting any
plants or animals).  In every instance, the "experts" have been very
sincere and well-intentioned in their advocacy of the species being
introduced.  Of course, there is an old saying about good intentions and
what road is paved with them.

There's probably not much likelihood of these beetles and weevils
hybridizing with beetles and weevils already in North America.  Insects
don't naturally hybridize very often.  Adapting to new food sources, on
the other hand, is very likely.  It really depends on the particular
species involved.  The group of insects known as "beetles" is so vast
that it's like saying "mammals."  As for weevils, some weevils are quite
plant specific.  I've noticed how hollyhock weevils don't go onto other
mallows (I have about fourty different species of hibiscus and other
mallows, I'd notice).  No telling, though, what hollyhock weevils would
do if there were no more hollyhocks; I doubt they'd all just lay down and
die.

At immediate risk to these exotic insects would be other members of the
Lythracea.  Fortunately (?) it's not one of those large, varied families.
 Landscapers in the southern states will be hard-pressed to come up with
a shrub to replace the ubiquitous crepe myrtle.  Some container gardeners
will miss Cuphea.  I suspect commercial henna is produced somewhere else
in the world.  We can only guess as to what other species these beetles
and weevils will decide, "Looks like lythrum, tastes like lythrum, hunger
prevails."  Since these beetles and weevils have already been released,
all we can do now is wait and see.  Oh my.

I think I'll go sprinkle some systemic granules around my crepe myrtles,
if only for the sense of emotional security.  

Dean Sliger
Warren, Michigan, USA
Zone 6B

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