What is Biological Control?

"Biological control (or biocontrol) reunites invasive plants with their enemies to restore natural controls and reduce dominance of invasive plants within the plant community. Promoted as a self-sustaining, self-dispersing control method, biocontrol is often used to gradually suppress widespread infestations in low-value or remote areas where other methods are not economically feasible.

Despite a reputation as an environmentally benign, cost-effective approach to invasive plant management, the long-term efficacy and environmental impacts of releasing one organism to control another are not fully understood. Classical biocontrol is irreversible and therefore it is essential that all potential consequences are adequately considered beforehand.

Natural enemies, as well as a number of other factors, play an important role in regulating plant populations in their native environments. The absence of natural enemies may be an important contributing factor to the invasiveness of some nonnative species."*.

There are instances where chemical and/or mechanical control measures are not cost efficient or permissible for a particular site.  Black Lagoon has worked closely with Federal and State agencies toward establishing biological/natural controls for certain invasive plants such at purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).

Currently, biological control of invasive plants is very limited in scope.  In eastern States, it has been proven effective for Purple Loosestrife. Galerucella pusilla and Galerucella calmariensis are leaf-eating beetles which seriously affect growth and seed production by feeding on the leaves and new shoot growth of purple loosestrife plants. These beetle species are actually propagated for sale and distribution by New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture. Purple loosestrife infestations nationwide have been stocked with beetles from New Jersey. Stocking of Galerucella spp. is recommended during consecutive seasons during initial control efforts.

*"Introduction - Biological Control:  Management Methods - Managing Invasive Plants". U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, February 18, 2009. Web.