A small flea beetle will be available for control of leafy spurge. The adult of this beetle lays its eggs near the base of the plant. The larvae feed on roots and root hairs causing extensive damage to the vigor of the plant. In some areas, large infestations of leafy spurge have been suppressed by the damage caused by these insects. The musk thistle natural enemy that is available is a small crown-boring weevil.
Adults feed extensively on the plant when they emerge in the spring.
The larvae feed in the crown of the plant at the soil line, which results in the inability of the plant to bolt and produce viable seed. This insect has been responsible for the reduction of the spread and density of musk thistle in parts of the state.