By Lizzy Reitzloff
Purple loosestrife might have attractive petals, but this prolific invasive species is a big problem for the Rock River Basin. Astonishingly, this semi-woody perennial flower can produce as many as 2.7 million seeds each year, per plant. Once they become established in local waterways, they outcompete native wetland plants, reducing food sources for local wildlife, eliminating habitat for waterfowl, and impeding boat travel. To help address this issue, Rock River Coalition is once again teaming with local partners for our Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Program.
This engaging program, which was first launched in 2021, involves capturing and breeding Galerucella calmariensis beetles (which exclusively consume purple loosestrife), and re-releasing them into known wild purple loosestrife patches in the community. Rock River Coalition relies on local organizations to host the plants and beetles, and in 2025 we will be partnering with Lake Ripley Management District, Neighborhood House, a youth community center in Dodge County, and Koshkonong Trails School in Cambridge, WI.
The Purple Loosestrife Biocontrol Program is remarkable in its power to both restore native habitats and inspire the next generation of environmental stewards. Rock River Coalition provides supplies and lessons during each stage of the process.
“Experiential education is one o f the major needs in today’s educational system,” says Niki Espy, the Associate Program Director for Neighborhood house. “Hands-on learning stimulates curiosity, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. A student exposed to this way of learning is more apt to be engaged in lifelong learning and stewardship.”
Rearing and releasing the beetles provides students with real-world environmental science applications, and helps them develop a sense of responsibility and connection to the land.
“Projects like this, where the connection between the work the kids take part in and a positive environmental outcome is so concrete can have a real impact on the children who participate,” says Skylar Primm, a teacher from Koshkonong Trails School. “It shows them the power of direct action for the benefit of the outdoors, and I think that knowledge and experience translate to other areas of their lives and affects their future actions as members of the community.”
Join the Effort
We need your help to identify purple loosestrife patches where these beetles can be released. Whether you’re a student, educator, conservationist, or nature enthusiast, your efforts can make a real impact! Report sightings of purple loosestrife to Lizzy Reitzloff, RRC Stream Monitoring and AIS Coordinator at lizzy@rockrivercoalition.org or to WI DNR’s Regional AIS Biologist, Shelby Adler, at shelby.adler@wisconsin.gov.
Together, we can protect our waterways—one beetle at a time!