Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2006DE74B

Predators of Galerucella Beetles, Biocontrol Agents of Purple Loosestrife

Institute: Delaware
Year Established: 2006 Start Date: 2006-06-01 End Date: 2007-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $1,750 Total Non-Federal Funds: $3,500

Principal Investigators: Judith Hough-Goldstein

Project Summary: Flat Pond, a pond near the Chesapeake & Delaware canal, is heavily infested with purple loosestrife. As a perennial plant that produces thousands of seeds, purple loosestrife has proven difficult to control by chemical or mechanical means. A biological means is sought to control, if not eliminate purple loosestrife at Flat Pond by use of two species of beetles, Galerucella, G. pusilla and G. calmariensis, which are purple loosestrife specific herbivores that can eliminate this invasive species from wetlands. Field and laboratory experiments will assess predator survival and the rates of predation during each life stage of the Galerucella beetles. The specific goal of this research is to pinpoint more accurately the best time and place to release the beetles, maximizing the effect of the release, and to gain a better understanding of which predators pose a threat to the beneficial Galerucella and in which stages of development are the beetles most vulnerable to predation.