Annual battle against purple
invader
 
Photos courtesy Jay Callaghan, Ontario Federation of Anglers &
Hunters
Across Ontario several youth clubs, cottage associations, civic groups and
individuals will join the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters in the fight against
an aggressive invader that is choking the life out of our wetlands.
From Fort Frances in the Northwest through Grimsby, Woodstock, Caledonia,
Midland and Peterborough, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Get Outdoors Clubs
will be hosting special events to generate awareness of invading species and in particular
purple loosestrife.
Despite its beautiful, purple guise, purple loosestrife, can move in and
cover vast areas of wetland, including marshes, river banks and even low lying farm
fields. As the sea of purple spreads, fewer and fewer native species of plants and animals
thrive. Aggressive and with few natural enemies to control its rampant growth, purple
loosestrife can displace native plants on which fish and wildlife depend for food, shelter
and habitat.
Recently awarded one of the highest national conservation awards, O.F.A.H.
Get Outdoors is one the fastest growing youth conservation programs in Canada. Many Get
Outdoors club members, ranging from age 8 to 18, will be earning special badges as well as
valuable community service experience through participation in the Project Purple
campaign.
The purple loosestrife problem is not new, and every year countless
volunteers and community and environmental agencies must pitch in to battle for our
precious wetlands. The hard work of volunteers has helped greatly, but purple loosestrife
still poses a major threat.
The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) urges community
groups and individuals to do their part against this persistent and prolific pest. This is
a week to encourage volunteer community involvement and promote public awareness of the
ecological problems associated with purple loosestrife.
The plant is traditionally in bloom during July and August. This is an
excellent time to take to the fields, marshes and river banks to practice purple
loosestrife control before they spread their seed further. Each mature plant can produce
about 3 million seeds annually.
Although biological controls have proven to be quite effective against
large stands of the tenacious plant, manual efforts such as digging and clipping are still
very important means to curb the spread of purple loosestrife before it becomes firmly
established in an area.
Small leaf eating beetles technically known as Galurucella pusilla and
Galerucella calmariensis were, with the assistance of the O.F.A.H.'s Project Purple,
intentionally released as part of a University of Guelph Biological Control Program .
Until now, loosestrife, native to Europe, has had no natural enemies here. The beetles
were tested extensively to ensure they themselves would not pose an ecological problem and
it was found they feed almost exclusively on purple loosestrife.
Now, almost 10 years after their first controlled release in Canada, the
little insects are doing a great job slowing the spread of the plant. Loosestrife has been
declared a noxious weed by government agencies, and over 70 municipalities have declared
August 1 - 7 as in Ontario.
The O.F.A.H. encourages every community in the province to take part in
efforts to control the spread of this unwanted plant and educate others to do the same
during Project Purple Week. By hosting educational programs and control projects in which
the public can join, groups and individuals can make a big difference. Call the O.F.A.H.
for more information to help you plan an event or for more information about events in
your area, please call Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711.
For more information regarding this and other invasive species in Ontario,
please log on to the Invading Species website at www.invadingspecies.com
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