Lessoning Loosestrife

• The US Department of Agriculture approved releasing beetles in 1992 after six years of studies.
• In the mid-late 1990s, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service began releasing Galerucella beetles on two refuges in Massachusetts to control purple loosestrife an invader threatening biodiversity in wetlands.
• The MA Wetland Restoration Program (WRP) began working in partnership with the Association of Massachusetts Wetland Scientists to rear and release beetles through their Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project and coordinated the Project's first release in 2000 at a site in Walpole. Since then WRP has coordinated releases at over 25 sites.
• Mass Audubon and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation began releasing beetles at Stony Brook Sanctuary / Bristol Blake State Reservation in 2006. Mass Audubon released beetles at their Endicott Sanctuary in Wenham in 2007. Mass Audubon 2008 Releases include Endicott Sanctuary, Boston Nature Center and Drumlin Farm.
• Releases are expected to occur at additional sanctuaries and sites in future years.
• For more background information on purple loosestrife biocontrol in Massachusetts, please see the Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Project Summary on the WRP website.