Lyme disease, Japanese barberry and flame throwers

Posted on June 20, 2011 by Sylvan Kaufman

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 propane torches.

Williams, S.C. et al. 2009. Managing Japanese barberry (Ranunculales: Berberidaceae) infestations reduces blacklegged tick (Acari: Ixodidae) abundance and infection prevalence with Borrelia burgdorferi (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetaceae).  Environmental Entomology 38(4): 977-984.

Ward, J. S. et al. 2009. Controlling Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii DC) in southern New England, USA. Forest Ecology and Management 257(2):561-566.

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One Response to Lyme disease, Japanese barberry and flame throwers

  1. Scott Williams says:
    September 29, 2011 at 4:24 pm

    We are with The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, not the University of Connecticut. There is no affiliation.

    Scott

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