The New England Wild Flower Society Conservation Department has a new and improved Web Site including many new resources for Invasive Plant information. Visit there for the latest news and links. http://www.newfs.org/conserve/invasive.htm |
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Questions, Comments, and Replies These comments were made by attendees at the New England Wild Flower Society's Symposium: Invasive Plants: Challenges, Options, and Methods of Control, which was held November 6, 1999. |
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| Which beetle has been shown to be most effective in controlling l. salicaria? |
Leaf eating: Galerucella caleriensis and G. pusilla
Root eating: Bayeriola salicaria
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| What else do these beetles eat? Let's not create another problem. | Swamp loosestrife, winged loosestrife |
| New Hampshire beekeepers spread the seeds and brag about it. | It's illegal and listed as so in New Hampshire. Call DES. |
| Honey makers love it. Any success stories for combating their support for loosestrife? | Research indicates it produces inferior, ill-tasting honey, according to honey folk at Topsfield Fair. Former bee-keeping roommate said it's his least favorite. |
| Can mowing assist with control in conjunction with Galerucella release – when is the appropriate time? |
Control at site: NO
Prevention in nearby areas: YES
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| How did purple loosestrife enter New England? | Settlers brought it for gardens and there were multiple introductions in ballast, sheep's wool, etc. |
| Do you feel that the "sterile" forms of loosestrife are ok to use? | The problem is that it may hybridize with natural stands and produce a loosestrife with increased vigor. |
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| This plant has not been shown to be exotic! It has been found in the fossil record here. | But there appears to have been an invasion or maybe mutation to a much more invasive form c. 1940. |
| Ralph Tiner says apparently there are several varieties -- not all invasive. Local observations since 1930 support this. Get a history for each site. | |
| Have native population locations been identified? | |
| What is its range? (Northernmost extent?) | |
| I'm hearing mixed reviews of Phragmites in New Hampshire. How much of a problem is it? | It's bad in salt marshes w/altered hydrology. |
| What are the most popular methods of control? Does cutting do anything? | Small colonies in sandy soil at the edge of a pond can be controlled or at least annoyed by frequent cutting and pulling of rhizomes during the late growing season. |
| Water quality/salinity is a key to control. | |
| Partnership to Restore Mass. Wetlands has good info on projects on Cape Cod and in Ipswich on increasing tidal flow in marshes to reduce phragmites population. | |
| Has Rizeda lutosa been found to be an effective biological control? | |
| Can we eat it? Seeking recipes! |
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| Does pulling this our actually help? If so, when is the best time to discourage regeneration? | |
| Does it still grow if some of the roots are left? | If you get the bulk of the crown, it does not re-grow. Diligence on the smaller roots is not necessary. |
| New Hampshire Wild Turkey Association is still trying to have this plant as part of their wild turkey food plant packet. | Switch to native barberry! |
| Why is this still available at nurseries? MNLA should establish standards for restricting invasives. | Educate the nursery customers and eliminate the demand. |
| For all berry-producing non-natives, promote new research showing that lipids in many non-native berries are not as high quality as native berries and are actually bad for birds/wildlife in that they fill up on "junk food." -- Knocks out the "wildlife value" argument for planting non-natives. | |
| The nursery industry in RI claims that the dwarf form does not spread. Is there any evidence to support this? | |
| Can grazing or fire control barberry? | |
| Does it die when the forest canopy closes? |