Home on the Range: Establishment of a Canada Thistle Biocontrol Agent

Abstract

Invasive weeds are one of the worst scourges within rangelands, and it is often difficult to control them using conventional approaches such as herbicides or mowing. But all is not lost—insect allies can help us combat these noxious plants! We are talking about insect biocontrol agents, or plant-eating bugs that feed on weeds. However, there are hurdles these insects must overcome to successfully control weed populations; the first is establishing a viable population after being released. In this article we focus on one such ecological drama, which is the biocontrol of Canada thistle in North Dakota with a stem-mining weevil.