| May 31, 2008 - The Beetles are Back!!!! Back to News Index |
Whispers in the Forest
Newtown Forest Association
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
Connecticut's Oldest Private Land Trust
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The NFA wants to thank Bob Merola for his assistance and the drafting of the following article.
Just under a year ago, biological control of Purple loosestrife began at a Newtown Forest Association (NFA) site here in Newtown. The beetles over
wintered and colonized at the site. They’ve begun to emerge and propagate.
You may recall that Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) has been designated by the State of Connecticut as an invasive plant. It was banned from
commercial sale in Connecticut in 2005. Purple loosestrife is one invasive plant for which biological control agents (such as Galerucella beetles)
have been identified, tested and released.
At a visit to the site on May 31st this year, recently elected NFA President Bob Eckenrode and NFA Treasurer Guy Peterson, hosted Donna Ellis,
University of Connecticut, Department of Plant Science and 2007 “beetle farmer” Bob Merola. Donna is an extension educator at the University of
Connecticut and Co-Chair for the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG).
Donna, Bob, Guy and Bob observed significant Purple loosestrife plant damage at the site. Purple loosestrife plants were approximately 8-12 inches
high and displayed the telltale pinhole damage caused by the beetles. Clusters of beetle eggs were observed on many plants and several adult
beetles were also seen nestled in the tender shoots at the top of the plants.
As a beetle farmer in 2007, it was a gratifying experience to see the early results of last year’s efforts. Donna Ellis was heard saying “I was very
pleased to see the impacts that the beetles were making so soon after their release in the wetland.”
In their continuing efforts to preserve the land, NFA approved and allowed two Newtown Master Gardener 2008 interns to dig Purple loosestrife
plants at the site for their Beetle Farmer outreach program this year. They will collect beetles at some other site in CT, farm/raise the beetles and
ultimately release them at some other CT site, thereby continuing the effort to control the invasive and banned Purple loosestrife.
This is a good example of maintaining and improving our wetlands through good stewardship.
Just under a year ago, biological control of Purple loosestrife began at a Newtown Forest Association (NFA) site here in Newtown. The beetles over
wintered and colonized at the site. They’ve begun to emerge and propagate.
You may recall that Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) has been designated by the State of Connecticut as an invasive plant. It was banned from
commercial sale in Connecticut in 2005. Purple loosestrife is one invasive plant for which biological control agents (such as Galerucella beetles)
have been identified, tested and released.
At a visit to the site on May 31st this year, recently elected NFA President Bob Eckenrode and NFA Treasurer Guy Peterson, hosted Donna Ellis,
University of Connecticut, Department of Plant Science and 2007 “beetle farmer” Bob Merola. Donna is an extension educator at the University of
Connecticut and Co-Chair for the Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG).
Donna, Bob, Guy and Bob observed significant Purple loosestrife plant damage at the site. Purple loosestrife plants were approximately 8-12 inches
high and displayed the telltale pinhole damage caused by the beetles. Clusters of beetle eggs were observed on many plants and several adult
beetles were also seen nestled in the tender shoots at the top of the plants.
As a beetle farmer in 2007, it was a gratifying experience to see the early results of last year’s efforts. Donna Ellis was heard saying “I was very
pleased to see the impacts that the beetles were making so soon after their release in the wetland.”
In their continuing efforts to preserve the land, NFA approved and allowed two Newtown Master Gardener 2008 interns to dig Purple loosestrife
plants at the site for their Beetle Farmer outreach program this year. They will collect beetles at some other site in CT, farm/raise the beetles and
ultimately release them at some other CT site, thereby continuing the effort to control the invasive and banned Purple loosestrife.
This is a good example of maintaining and improving our wetlands through good stewardship.
