Invasive species are plants, animals, fungi, or microorganisms that spread rapidly and cause harm to other species. They are introduced species that can thrive in areas beyond their natural range of dispersal.

Purple loosestrife flowers – Lesley J. Mehrhoff; University of Connecticut; Invasive.org

Richard Gast is a retired Extension Program Educator and has been contracted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Franklin County to continue his informative and thought provoking articles.

Is it my imagination, or is Purple Loosestrife in resurgence this year?? It had been tapering off for about 10 years in my area, but seems to be making a comeback on the Northway.

I curious, what is the Galerucella’s favorite plant after the purple loosestrife has been sufficiently reduced in number such that it no longer sustains the Galerucella’s population?

Introducing a non-native insect is definitely counter-intuitive. This article raises alarming questions about native Loosestrife populations as well as controlling the population of the Galerucella beetle and its predators.

We paddled upstream from the Crusher on the Racquette river two days ago and saw a few plants on the right side up on a rock not too far upstream that looked like loosestrife. I think there is a native that looks similar and took a picture.

That sure is a purty beetle! An interesting story. I talked to a beekeeper in Schoharie County once who said his bees just loved purple loose strife, and so the honey I bought from him had a mix from those flowers in it, those flowers which were spread all over the landscape. This flower sure does make for a pretty landscape in the summertime, invasive or not.

The Utica Marsh was once dominated by Purple Loosestrife. I believe the beetle was experimented there with great success. Good question about what plant the beetle targets next. Now we need to genetically alter Whitetails to acquire a taste for Knapweed and Knotweed (Tongue in cheek!).

Would the beetle populations decline to low levels once their main food source, purple Loosestrife has been consumed rather than maintain high populations and find alternate food sources? Will the beetles become prey to birds and mammals keeping their population in check? I think these would be the best outcomes, but when introducing alien species there’s always a risk.

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