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Montana Noxious Weed
Awareness Week - June 10
Weevils, Wasps, Stem Borers & Beetles
Get to Know Biocontrol
Biological weed control (biocontrol) refers to any technique that involves the use of natural enemies of weed plants to control the germination of weed seeds or the spread of established plants. Biocontrol uses living organisms, such as insects, nematodes, bacteria, or fungi, to reduce weed populations.
Biological weed control in Montana dates back to 1948 with the release of Chrysolina beetles on St. Johnswort by the State Entomoligist, George Roemhilg.
Today the Montana Biological Weed Control Coordination Project provides the leadership, coordination, and education necessary to enable land managers across Montana to successfully incorporate biological weed control into their noxious weed management programs.
Leafy Spurge Beetles - bugwood image
Biocontrol cannot be used on all noxious weeds in Montana. It can take years before the impact becomes obvious and they seldom completely eliminate the target weed.
But biocontrol can be a successful part of an integrated weed management.
- Biocontrol agents only directly affect their target weed species.
- Once established, biocontrol will continue to impact the target weed.
- Biocontrol will often spread to new patches of their target weed.
- Biocontrol is inexpensive.
- Biocontrol is low maintenance; usually only need to make releases for 1-3 years for establishment.
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Today's Weed - Tansy Ragwort
bugwood image
Tansy Ragwort might sound like the name of a professor from Hogwarts, but this weed with bright yellow daisy-like flowers can be found in western Montana. Biocontrol is important to managing this noxious weed.
Native to Europe and Asia it was first detected in Mineral County in 1979. It shouldn't be confused with another noxious weed called Common Tansy. Tansy Ragwort stems can grow to 4 feet tall. The leave produce a strong nasty smell when crushed.
Learn more about Tansy Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) here.
Watch the video here.
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