Lessoning Loosestrife

There are numerous opportunities to get involved with the purple loosestrife biocontrol, including:

• Help your community inventory purple loosestrife infestations, by mapping locations.
• Inventory biocontrol beetles and damage at sites away from known release sites. Compile and submit data to WRP website.
• Sign up with WRP to conduct biological monitoring at sites in your area where biocontrol treatments have occurred. See the Guidance Document (PDF 1.25M) for the Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project for more information.
• Raise beetles to be released at biocontrol treatment site(s). See the Beetle Rearing Protocol (PDF 88K) in the Guidance Document
• Use the activities included in this curriculum to introduce your students to the topics of invasive plants, biological control, and conservation and restoration stewardship activities.
• See Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project - Timeline for Possible Activities (DOC 53K) for details.

Beth Suedmeyer
Wetlands Restoration Program
MA Office of Coastal Zone Management
251 Causeway Street, Suite 800
Boston, MA 02114-2136
617-626-4921