June 16, 2007
Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project
Spring Monitoring Team
Volunteers from Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation joined Cambridge Water Department employees Hannah Wilbur (second from left) and Pete Varga (far right) to monitor damage caused by introduced Galerucella beetles to the invasive purple loosestrife plants that are growing in the wetland on the north side of Little Fresh Pond. There is considerable evidence of beetles, with "bullet-holes" in the leaves and damage to the growing tips that will result in reduced flowering and seed production. This is the first year of a project that may involve the reintroduction of beetles for 2 or 3 more years until the beetle population is established and loosestrife growth is inhibited enough to allow native wetland plants to reestablish.