Purple loosestrife Biological Control: A success story
Before biocontrol insects released: Purple loosestrife infested Pig's Eye Lake, St Paul, 2000.
After biocontrol insects released: New growth of natives and defoliated purple loosestrife in Pig's Eye Lake, St Paul, 2004.
Before biocontrol insects released: Purple loosestrife infested wetland near Winona, MN, 1987.
After biocontrol insects released: Defoliated purple loosestrife wetland near Winona, MN, 2000.
The discovery of purple loosestrife biological control agents
Prior to the introduction of purple loosestrife biological control agents into the United States, intensive testing was conducted to ensure that safe and effective agents were selected.
A search for potential agents in Europe, the native range of purple loosestrife and likely source of natural enemies that could serve as biological control agents, began in the mid-1980s. Of the more than 100 insect species found in Europe that feed on purple loosestrife, several were thought to have had excellent potential as biological control agents. Laboratory and field testing of potential agents began in Europe and was completed in North America under quarantine between 1987 and 1991 prior to the insects being approved for release.
Following the rigorous testing process and evaluation of the test results, four species of beetles were introduced into Minnesota after receiving approval for release from the United States government. This includes two leaf-feeding beetles, one root-boring weevil and one flower-feeding weevil. Galerucella pusilla and G. calmariensis are leaf-eating beetles which seriously affect growth and seed production by feeding on the leaves and new shoot growth of purple loosestrife plants. Hylobius transversovittatus is a root-boring weevil that deposits its eggs in the lower stem of purple loosestrife plants. Once hatched, the larvae feed on the root tissue, destroying the plant's nutrient source for leaf development, which in turn leads to the complete destruction of mature plants. The flower-feeding weevil, Nanophyes marmoratus, severely reduces seed production of purple loosestrife.
Galerucella beetle.
The implementation of purple loosestrife biological control in Minnesota
Since then, efforts have focused on rearing and releasing the leaf-eating beetles statewide. To accelerate the introduction of the leaf-eating beetles, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recruited partners to rear insects statewide. Insect rearing "starter kits" were provided to rearing partners including County Agricultural Inspectors, Minnesota Department of Agriculture staff, Minnesota Department of Transportation staff, DNR Area Wildlife Managers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Nature Centers, schools, 4-H and Garden clubs. Since 1997, cooperators have reared and released more than eight million leaf-eating beetles on more than 700 purple loosestrife infestations statewide.
The effectiveness of biological control
Insect release sites in Minnesota.
The long-term objective of biological control is to reduce the abundance of purple loosestrife in wetland habitats throughout Minnesota. Biological control, if effective, will reduce the impact of purple loosestrife on wetland flora and fauna. Purple loosestrife will not be eradicated from most wetlands where it presently occurs, but its abundance can be significantly reduced so that it is only a small component of the plant community, not a dominant one. Leaf-eating beetles released since 1992 have established reproducing populations at more than 90% of the sites visited. They have also dispersed from release sites and established at new sites. Leaf-eating beetles have been found on unmanaged purple loosestrife infestations more than 12 miles away from where they were released.
When leaf-eating beetles successfully limit the abundance of a purple-loosestrife infestation, the beetles disperse to sites with higher abundances of the plant. So, to continue to limit purple loosestrife in Minnesota, managers and volunteers work to facilitate beetle dispersal to purple loosestrife sites without established beetle populations.
Help Support Biological Control Efforts in Minnesota
Biological control of purple loosestrife is not an eradication effort, rather it suppresses the plants, so they become a part of a wetland plant community. Because of this, purple loosestrife periodically reappears in wetlands, especially if the leaf-eating beetles become depleted.
Cooperators and research managers around the state continue to help with the statewide purple loosestrife biocontrol project using both the collect and move and the rear and release methods. If you know about a large purple loosestrife infestation that is not under control, you can help bring loosestrife beetles to that area either by using one of these methods.
Collect and move: How to collect and move loosestrife beetles
Photos: DNR Invasive special specialist collecting beetles from a local wetland. Far left- Employee using a collection bottle, Far right- Trying to locate beetles for collection, Top middle- beetles observed in local wetland, Bottom middle- leaf damage from adult beetles
In many areas, resource managers are now able to collect insects from established release sites and move them to new purple loosestrife infestations. These collect and move efforts move insects from where they are abundant to sites where they are needed. Collecting and moving loosestrife beetles requires less time and effort than rearing and releasing them but requires a beetle source where hundreds of beetles can be collected to be moved to another location. A minimum of 1,000 beetles should be collected in order to be successful.
Rear and release: How to rear and release loosestrife beetles.
In other areas, where loosestrife leaf-eating beetles are scarce, rearing and releasing them is the best method for establishment (or sometimes re-establishment). This method only requires an initial collection of about 50 to 100 beetles, which can produce 1000’s of beetles for release. To find out more about each of these methods, follow the links below. The best time to collect beetles for biological control is in late May or early June.
Photos: Backyard beetle project. Far left- purple loosestrife plant enclosed in netting after adult beetles were added, Middle- beetle larvae with “window-paning” feeding, Far right- newly developed adult beetles before the release
How You Can Help
In order to get a collect and move or rear and release project going, contact your local Invasive Species Specialist for a list of potential beetle collection sites and the necessary permits you will need to work with the Prohibited Invasive Species, purple loosestrife. They can also provide netting material and possibly already made nets for moving the beetles if needed.
Help this effort by providing valuable information about purple loosestrife locations, beetle collection sites, and release sites by visiting and filling out this brief survey (roughly five minutes).
Additional Resources
Biological Control of Invasive Plants in Minnesota brochure.