Why is purple loosestrife a problem species?
Purple loosestrife is found in 68 of Minnesota’s 87 counties. Purple loosestrife invades wetland and lakeshore habitats, displacing native plant communities and destroying habitat and food sources for waterfowl and other wetland wildlife. Producing half a million seeds per square meter allows purple loosestrife to easily re-establish itself. How is purple loosestrife managed in Minneapolis’ Parks? Since the late 1990’s the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board has collaborated with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to use a biocontrol method on purple loosestrife. The biocontrol is a leaf feeding beetle that feeds on the leaves of the plant. After several years of defoliation the plant declines and dies. Using biocontrol methods for controlling invasive plants is not a quick control method. Extremely cold winters, wet spring/summers and seasonally flooded areas do not favor establishment of leaf-feeding beetles. Fluctuations in temperature and flooding may reduce beetle pop
