Leafy Spurge Weed
Objectives
- Decreased use of herbicides
- eliminate infestations
Methods
- use of weed predators, especially Aphthona flea beetle
- grazing
- revegetation
- tillage
- burning and clipping
- decision aids
- GIS/GPS
- weed pathogens
- and judicious use of herbicides
Extent of Implementation
Fiscal Years 1997-2001
- Implemented across the four state area of Montana, Navada, South Dakota and Wyoming.
- Covers the entire Little Missouri River drainage region.
Results to Date
- Where Aphthona species have become established the insects wiped out leafy spurge and areas often remain spurge-free.
- The flea beetles may take a while but it appears to be a permanent, long term and low-cost solution.
- In 1999, at a "Spurgefest" field day in Medora, North Dakota, 20 million Aphthona flea beetles were given to ranchers and land managers for use.
|
