When you look out over a field of purple loosestrife, it's actually a beautiful sight. What you don't see are the native plants that used to be there before the purple loosestrife took over.
Wetlands are just naturally biodiverse, that is to say, made up of many different plant species.
For a wetland to truly thrive, it should not be dominated by one plant but that's exactly what happens when purple loosestrife joins the mix. The principles of biodiversity, the threats of purple loosestrife and how Galerucella beetles released as biocontrol agents are being used to control the plant are some of the things participants will learn at a workshop being offered by Purdue University Cooperative Extension Specialists in cooperation with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. We've seen great results with the use of these biocontrol agents, and we're excited that more and more wetlands in Indiana are going to receive these beetles as a result of this project. The end goal is that the 4-H youth and leaders involved in these workshops will raise and release beetles in a designated local wetland. Space is limited, so register early.