Category Archives: Research

Weed sniffing dogs

The Montana based non-profit, Working Dogs for Conservation, http://www.workingdogsforconservation.org/, trains dogs to sniff out invasive plants. The dogs can sniff out at least 5 species, including Dyer’s Woad (Isatis tinctoria).  Their noses are especially useful in detecting small populations of plants in … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Detection and Control, Isatis tinctoria | Comments Off on Weed sniffing dogs

Burning bush makes poor amphibian habitat

A study in Missouri woodlands demonstrated that amphibian species richness (numbers of species) and evenness (relative distribution of species) declined in plots dominated by burning bush, Euonymus alatus.  The decline was attributable to a cooler microclimate under burning bush.  The cooler temperatures … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Euonymus alatus, Research | Comments Off on Burning bush makes poor amphibian habitat

Stop the seeds, stop the spread? Sterile burning bush developed.

Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station  have painstakingly developed a sterile triploid cultivar of Euonymus alatus, winged burning bush.  This ever-popular landscape plant has created dense thickets when it escapes into forests.  The process for developing the sterile cultivar is … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Euonymus alatus, Research | Tagged , | Comments Off on Stop the seeds, stop the spread? Sterile burning bush developed.

Swallow-wort leaf-eating beetles for biocontrol

Two moths have passed a major test towards becoming approved biocontrol agents for swallow-wort vines (Vincetoxicum spp.).  Swallow-wort is related to milkweeds, but these moth larvae appear to specialize on swallow-wort and don’t touch native milkweeds.  http://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/ipm-insights/swallow-wort-biocontrols-pass-test/

Share
Posted in Vincetoxicum spp. | Comments Off on Swallow-wort leaf-eating beetles for biocontrol

Could Phragmites be a major allergen?

Two University of Minnesota researchers propose that the rapid spread of Phragmites australis around urban areas could be responsible for high levels of allergenic pollen.  Currently most people are simply tested for allergies to grass pollen without differentiating different species … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Phragmites australis, Research | Comments Off on Could Phragmites be a major allergen?

Herbicide resistance in weeds

The current issue of Weed Science (vol. 59 issue 3) includes several articles on the growing resistance of agricultural weeds to herbicides. Several plant species show resistance to glyphosate, commonly used in invasive plant control. Some agricultural weeds can become … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Research, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Herbicide resistance in weeds

Lyme disease, Japanese barberry and flame throwers

Two Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station researchers have been spending a lot of time among the barberry.  One frequently cited study of theirs links the prevalence of Lyme-disease carrying ticks with Japanese barberry infestations.  Another study discusses control techniques including herbicides and … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Berberis thunbergii, New England | 1 Comment

New uses for Japanese honeysuckle

There is always controversy about finding uses for invasive plants because you don’t necessarily want to turn them into a commodity in their non-native range, but here are two uses for Japanese honeysuckle that I recently learned about: 1. Using … Continue reading

Share
Posted in Lonicera japonica, Research | Comments Off on New uses for Japanese honeysuckle