BEETLEMANIA IS HERE!

BEETLE FARMER NEWS!
[Picture] April 2008
 



Beetles Help To Eradicate Purple Loosestrife -
Republican American, Inc. news story published April 22, 2008.


Some of you may have seen Alderman Ken Hughes from Derby, one of our Beetle Farmers, interviewed on WTNH News Channel 8 on Tuesday this week.  Here’s a link to the story, and also to the video. 

Beetle battle in Derby
http://www.WTNH.com/Global/story.asp?s=6583910

Thank you, Ken! 

Best Regards,

Donna Ellis
Extension Educator and Co-Chair,
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG)


Please see the forwarded email and the link below from one of our Beetle Farmers, Ken Hughes, who reports that the Galerucella beetles are doing well following a 2006 release along the Naugatuck River in Derby. 

The Hartford Courant ran a story on Beetle Farming in their Sunday, May 13 edition.  The reporter, Max Bakke, attended the Beetle Farmer Workshop in Storrs in April and also interviewed some of the Beetle Farmer volunteers. 

I have received additional communications from Beetle Farmers in Norwalk, Vernon, and West Hartford that the beetles released in previous years have overwintered successfully and are actively feeding on purple loosestrife plants. 

Great job everyone - thanks!

Regards,

Donna 

Donna R. Ellis
Extension Educator and Co-Chair,
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG) 

  Original Message
From: Ken Hughes
Sent: Monday, May 21, 2007
To: Ellis, Donna
Hi Donna. Just an update. I visited the site along the Naugatuck River in Derby where I released the beetles last year, and saw feed damage on the plants. I counted 150 beetles in about an area 4' by 15'.

This area most recently flooded (about 5' under water) with the nor'easter and I was a bit concerned about the beetles, but they made it. 

You can read a brief update here: 

http://electronicvalley.org/derby/2006/PurpleLoosestrife.htm

Ken Hughes 


 

 

Visit the IPM and CIPWG websites for more information on purple loosestnfe biological control, invasive plants and other materials.
Websites:
UConn Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Connecticut Invasive Plant Working Group (CIPWG)

Donna R. Ellis, Extension Educator, Department of Plant Science Unit 4163,
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-4163
Telephone (860) 486-6448
FAX (860) 486-0534

last updated 3/22/07

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