Beetles continue to combat weed problem in Cypress

Posted on August 15, 2024 by Ryan Dahlman

By Anna Smith
Southern Alberta Newspapers
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

With another bio-control season over for the year, Cypress County looks forward to seeing the results of ongoing attempts to control the leafy spurge population along waterways.

This year, the county purchased and utilized 19 releases of leafy spurge beetle, a non-native species carefully selected and tested by the Alberta Invasive Species Council to help control the noxious weed.

While leafy spurge rates are not any higher than previous years, it remains an issue, especially in areas where harsher weed control methods aren’t viable.

“There’s so much leafy spurge along the river, and you can’t always use herbicides that close to the water,” said Lisa Sulz, agricultural supervisor for Cypress County. “So, we try to use bio-control when we can.”

The beetle, like leafy spurge, is not native to the area, but since the plant is a preferred food source for the insect, they can be used to remove specimens over the course of several years. Some of the beetles are able to overwinter, said Sulz, continuing their work in the next growing season.

The beetles are dispersed over areas with high concentrations of the plant, said Sulz, adding the effort requires a large number of insects, but it is making an impact.

Sulz says this is a slower process than less ecologically friendly options, but encourages ratepayers to be patient as the insects do their work on these vulnerable parts of provincial land. The province does help fund the releases of the beetles, said Sulz, since the shoreline of many creeks and rivers is provincial land.

Cypress County has been taking part in bio-control programs for many years, including participating in a test in recent years for a specific species of mite against Russian Olive trees, which remain an issue in the region. They look forward to seeing the results of the test and the potential addition to the program.

Those interested in potentially adopting this eco-friendly method using bio-control on their own land next year can reach out to the Alberta Invasive Species Council, said Sulz, and purchase a release of insects related to specific weed species.

Hatters will remember goats coming into Police Point Park a few years ago to tackle leafy spurge there.