Weevil bio control - Black Hills National Forest - 4

Description:

Description: English: Weevils (a type of beetle) were recently released across the Bearlodge Ranger District. The knapweed root weevil (Cyphocleonus achates) and knapweed flower weevil (Larinus obtusus) are being used as a biological control agent for patches of invasive spotted knapweed on the Forest. Bio control treatment is the use of parasites, predators and/or pathogens to reduce the population of noxious weeds. When released, the weevils roots into the stem/plant, wounding and ultimately killing the invasive spotted knapweed. Along with herbicide treatment, bio control gives the Forest another tool to mitigate priority noxious weed species. All bio control agents are approved by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/home/. (Photos by Braley Burke, Black Hills National Forest). Date: 9 August 2017. Source: https://www.facebook.com/blackhillsnf/posts/1837445436516051. Author: Black Hills National Forest U.S. Forest Service.