University of Rhode Island entomologists reached a milestone in their efforts to control the invasive weed swallow-wort this month with the first release of a biological agent to fight the pest.
Last week, the URI scientists, led by Professor Richard Casagrande and Research Associate Lisa Tewksbury, sent 500 larvae of the moth Hypena opulenta to partners in Canada for release in patches of swallow-wort near Ottawa.
“Swallow-wort is an aggressive invasive perennial weed that forms dense patches in a wide variety of habitats and may have negative impacts on monarch butterfly populations,” said Casagrande. “But we believe that this moth has potential for keeping the weed in check.”
In 2006, URI doctoral student Aaron Weed discovered the moth larvae feeding on swallow-worts in southern Ukraine. He brought the larvae to partners at the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International (CABI) in Switzerland for rearing and initial testing. Research on the biology, impact, and host range of these insects was conducted at CABI and in the URI Insect Quarantine Laboratory over the next six years by Weed, now a postdoctoral researcher at Dartmouth College, and a second URI graduate student, Alex Hazlehurst.
After finding that the moth larvae will only attack and survive on swallow-worts, the URI scientists and colleagues in Canada and Switzerland petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2012 to allow field release of this biological agent in North America. The review panel recommended it for USDA approval on September 4, 2013. The USDA has additional steps in its approval process before the agent can be released in the United States next spring, but the Canadian government granted permission for immediate release.
The URI team sent larvae to partners at Canada Agriculture late last week for the first release. According to Naomi Cappuccino of Carleton University, the release appeared successful and larvae were already pupating in preparation for the Canadian winter.
Pale and black swallow-wort were accidentally introduced into the United States from Europe over a century ago and have since spread throughout the Northeast and well into Canada and the Midwest. These toxic vining plants are major pasture pests and serious weeds in many agricultural, ornamental, and forest environments. In addition to their invasiveness, swallow-worts are closely related to milkweeds and threaten monarch butterfly populations. Monarchs readily lay eggs on swallow-worts, but all larvae that hatch on the plant perish.
“We believe that swallow-worts are particularly problematic in North America because they left all their natural enemies behind in Europe, and indeed, several European insects attack these plants in their native range,” said Casagrande. “In addition to the moth just released, a second moth with populations found from Finland to Ukraine is under evaluation in our quarantine laboratory.”
These agents will be compared with a related species under study by USDA scientists to select the next best species if there is need for further releases.
The Latest Bing News on:
Invasive weed
- KTMB: 1,022 volunteers cleaned 35 tons of weeds and 79 tons of trashon April 27, 2024 at 11:03 pm
Volunteers pulled more than 25 tons of invasive weeds, picked up more than 79 tons of trash (like yard waste, appliances, shot-up televisions, furniture and more than 1,100 tires), spread mulch in ...
- 7 Common Weeds That Are Absolutely Killing Your Home’s Curb Appealon April 26, 2024 at 8:00 am
Janney notes that the most critical part of eradicating weeds is digging deep enough to remove every last bit of the roots of each plant. If you leave even a smidge of a wild violet root, for example, ...
- Almaguin environmental group hopes to use moths to fight invasive killer weedon April 26, 2024 at 7:31 am
Volunteers in the Almaguin Highlands may have a new tool to fight phragmites, a very aggressive weed that kills several animal species and native plants. That tool is moths.
- Faith | Are they flowers or weeds? The answer is in your viewpointon April 26, 2024 at 5:00 am
The weeds were about to flower, and then one morning they were gone! Who took them, and why? It’s a mystery with a lesson.
- First Natural Enemy For An Invasive Weed To Be Released In Tuvaluon April 25, 2024 at 3:24 pm
Tuvalu has welcomed its first ever natural enemy to control the invasive weed tamalini or leucaena ( Leucaena leucocephela). Members of Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research’s Pacific Natural Enemies ...
- SCDNR using fish to help with invasive weeds problem in Upstate lakeon April 25, 2024 at 8:34 am
ANDERSON COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) said invasive weeds are a problem in one Anderson County lake. Officials said to solve the problem, it ...
- Hundreds of fish added to Upstate lake to wipe out invasive weed, officials sayon April 24, 2024 at 12:04 pm
Much like goats are used to to graze on overgrowth of weeds on land, the carp are being used in hopes of eliminating invasive weeds that have been found to be multiplying in the lake.
- How to get rid of weeds in a lawn - Experts explain your two optionson April 23, 2024 at 9:30 am
Yes, invasive weeds can ruin your lawn care efforts and take over your lawn in just a few days. And while there are so many ways to kill weeds, these methods typically focus on weeds in non-grassy ...
- Live in Massachusetts? This invasive plant could damage your house’s foundation.on April 19, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant extremely difficult to get rid of, has moved into wetlands and pine barrens across Massachusetts.
- It's allergy season in Arizona. This invasive weed could be making symptoms worseon April 17, 2024 at 10:40 am
Do you suffer from seasonal allergies? Stinknet, an invasive weed, may be making the sneezing and coughing worse around metro Phoenix. Here's why.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Invasive weed
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Invasive weed” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
Swallow-wort
- Top 6 Best St. John’s Wort Supplement in 2024on April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
We have been using NatureBell St John’s Wort Supplement for several weeks and have noticed a significant improvement in our overall mood and energy levels. The capsules are easy to swallow and ...
- Swallows' Mhango strikes late to deny Sundownson April 15, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Moroka Swallows fought back to hold Mamelodi Swallows to a 2-2 draw in a DStv Premiership encounter played at the Dobsonville Stadium on Monday night. Despite picking up an important point ...
- 3 marketing myths the supplement industry wants you to swallowon April 10, 2024 at 5:00 am
The supplement industry likes to capitalize on the idea that ‘doing something is better than doing nothing’ when it comes to your health. By Katie Suleta / The Conversation | Published Apr 10 ...
- The deadly wreck of the steamboat Swallowon April 8, 2024 at 5:25 am
Many shipwrecks are lost to memory. One, however, is not: the 1845 disaster involving two sidewheel steamboats, the Swallow and the Rochester. The Swallow was built in New York City and began ...
- A natural deception: 3 marketing myths the supplement industry wants you to swallowon April 5, 2024 at 6:06 am
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Katie Suleta, George Washington University (THE CONVERSATION) Americans seem to have ...
- A natural deception: 3 marketing myths the supplement industry wants you to swallowon April 4, 2024 at 5:00 pm
(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Katie Suleta, George Washington University (THE CONVERSATION) Americans seem to ...
- Researchers find unusual heat resilience in tree swallowson April 1, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Tree swallows use behavioral and physiological mechanisms to handle rising temperatures, and their story is an optimistic example of how some species successfully respond to climate change ...
- Top 8 Best Serotonin Supplements in 2024on March 30, 2024 at 5:01 pm
The capsules are easy to swallow and don’t have a strong taste ... L-tryptophan, and St. John’s Wort. Pay attention to the recommended dosage on the label. Taking too much serotonin supplement ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Swallow-wort
[google_news title=”” keyword=”swallow-wort” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]