Beth Myers, ODA with purple loosestrife 2004

Biological control of Purple loosestrife at Horseshoe Lake, just West of St. Paul, began in 1995 with the release of two leaf beetles Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis. Later, two additional natural enemies were released; Nanophyes marmoratus, a seed weevil, and Hylobius transversovittatus, a root boring weevil. All of the insects established. In summer of 2004, the leaf beetles began a population explosion, and by July 2005 defoliation exceeded 99%! It is expected that loosestrife will be reduced by 95%.

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