The Biocontrol of Purple Loosestrife:
Building Beetle Nurseries
April 22, 2007
Meet the Beetle Brigade! These volunteers spent the afternoon creating nurseries for growing Galerucella beetles, the small insect that is our last, best hope for keeping Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum sailcaria), the beautiful but invasive wetland plant, under control on the Reservation. These nurseries will be used in a pilot program to learn how to grow beetles for ourselves. For the next few years, beetles will be purchased and released in the Little Fresh Pond wetland. A few beetles will be saved and placed on the potted plants. Eventually there will be an endemic population of beetles which we can use to create new populations.
Photos: Sewing the mesh cages, washing and potting the plants, plants ready for placement, The Brigade.